Industry22 July 2026
From mine to dealer: five tiers of supply-chain trust
Mines, exporters, importers, wholesalers and retail dealers each carry different signals. Understanding the chain helps buyers ask sharper questions.
By Lithos
Material moves through a predictable chain, and each step changes what a buyer should ask.
- Mine / producer — origin, extraction dates, permits
- Exporter — export documentation and country of origin
- Importer — customs, compliance, chain of custody
- Wholesaler / manufacturer — grading consistency and volume
- Retail dealer / collector — provenance history
Knowing where a counterparty sits tells you which questions actually matter.