Marble Slabs from Turkey for Almaty and Astana: Calacatta, Onyx, Bookmatching and Marble in a Continental Climate (2026)

Calacatta Oro: one of the most requested slabs for islands and bookmatched layouts. Actual slab from stock.

Short answer. RVK Mobilya Dekorasyon supplies marble slabs from Turkey (Calacatta, white, grey and beige marble, dolomite, onyx) to stone fabricators, interior designers, developers and hotels in Almaty, Astana and Shymkent. You approve every slab from a numbered photo; the slab you saw is the slab that goes in the crate. Prices run from 195 to 650 USD per m² (EXW), and stock slabs are crated within days. Selection, quality control and shipping are managed from Istanbul, Türkiye.

Written by Volkan Kıyan, RVK Mobilya Dekorasyon. Last updated: 20 October 2026.

Who this guide is for

• Stone fabricators who buy slabs direct
• Architects and interior designers selecting stone for a project
• Developers of premium residential complexes (floors, lobbies, bathrooms)
• Hotels, restaurants and business centres in Almaty and Astana
• Stone importers and showrooms

If you need a kitchen together with a stone worktop, see our article on luxury kitchens from Turkey for Almaty and Astana.

Why marble from Turkey

According to Turkey's Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, the country holds about 40% of the world's natural stone reserves. A study of the marble industry using the revealed comparative advantage method found high Turkish competitiveness in marble products (Adıgüzel and Şengüler, 2019); a study of 2012-2022 found a competitive advantage in 12 of the 15 natural stone types examined (Kaptan and Adıgüzel, 2023). In the first nine months of 2025 Turkish marble exports reached about 1.42 billion dollars. For a buyer in Kazakhstan this means deep choice, source pricing and a proven chain for packing and documents.

Colour, vein and fracture control starts at block stage.

Four applications in Almaty and Astana interiors

Bookmatched walls

Two consecutive slabs from the same block give mirror symmetry; four slabs give a quartermatch. Slab numbers are visible on the approval photos. For such walls we reserve Deep River, Onice Grande, Calacatta Oro and Baran Gold. Slabs are 140-200 cm high, so walls over 2.8 m are planned in advance. More: bookmatched marble slabs.

Backlit onyx

Onyx is translucent: an LED panel behind the slab lights the veining from within. Reception desks, bar tops, basin walls, hotel lobbies. Thickness 1.5-2 cm, mesh on the back, epoxy filling. The colour temperature of the light (2700-4000 K) changes the tone of the stone. We do not recommend onyx for loaded floors or worktops.

Silver Onyx: grey-silver ground with brown and orange veins that gain depth when backlit.

Bathrooms

Wet floors call for a honed or brushed finish and stone with low water absorption; slip resistance is measured under EN 14231 and depends on the finish. Whites for wet areas: White Dolomite and Fantasy White; for a feature wall: King Perla.

Floors and stairs

On floors, abrasion resistance (EN 14157) and slab homogeneity decide; for large areas we stock Bella Cream, Kemalpaşa White and Marmara Equator. Stair treads are 3 cm with adequate flexural strength (EN 12372).

Bella Cream: homogeneous cream-beige, bundles reserved for hotel corridors and large floors.

Marble in Kazakhstan's continental climate

Outdoors: from -30 °C in winter to +35 °C in summer

Outdoors, marble is affected by frost (EN 12371), sharp temperature swings and salt crystallisation. A study of Western Anatolian marbles showed how thermal and salt cycles cause marble to deteriorate (Yavuz and Topal, 2007). For Astana, with its harsh winter and de-icing salts, this matters even more. The right approach: a honed or sandblasted finish, stone with low water absorption, and test reports. We offer stone tested in an accredited laboratory, with test reports available.

Underfloor heating and dry air

Marble conducts heat well and is used over underfloor heating; the adhesive and first heat-up schedule are set by the installer following the system manufacturer's instructions. Unlike wood, stone is not harmed by the dry air of the heating season. The standard scientific reference on stone durability is Stone in Architecture (Siegesmund and Snethlage, 2014).

Kitchens and acids

Marble is mostly calcite and dissolves even in weak acids; dolomitic marble is far more resistant (U.S. GSA). For working worktops, White Dolomite with a honed finish is the safer choice.

White Dolomite: its dolomitic structure resists acids better, a safe white for kitchens.

How to choose slabs and lower your risk

• Selection: first selection (A) means even colour and controlled veining; second selection (B) trades tonal variation for a lower price.
• Photos: bundle photos, numbered photos of every slab, video on request.
• Processing: calibrated thickness; mesh backing and epoxy filling on breccias and onyx.
• Rule: the slab you saw is the slab that goes in the crate.

Lots, containers, import

• A 20-foot container takes about 400 m² of 2 cm slabs; it fills by weight (about 55 kg/m² at 2 cm, about 80 kg/m² at 3 cm).
• You can start with a single bundle or slab; for fabricators we recommend a mixed trial container of 3-6 models.
• Packing: bundles or closed crates of ISPM 15 heat-treated timber.
• Import VAT: the standard VAT rate in Kazakhstan is 16% from 1 January 2026.
• Duty: at the EAEU rate for the tariff code; your customs broker makes the calculation and confirms the documents required for stone.
• Documents from us: commercial invoice, packing list per case, certificate of origin, photos of the ISPM 15 marks and of loading.
• Routes: by road through Georgia, Azerbaijan and across the Caspian (Middle Corridor, port of Aktau), or through Russia; route, timing and cost are calculated per order.
• Payment: deposit on order confirmation, balance before loading after photos and video of the crated slabs; by bank transfer in USD or EUR.

Loading crated slabs: payment, documents and loading are parts of the same sequence.

Prices and lead times 2026

Item	Guide
Homogeneous white and beige models	lower end of the range
Rare Calacatta selections	upper end of the range
Full slab range	195-650 USD per m², EXW Turkey
Stock slabs	crated within days of approval
Fresh cutting	3-4 weeks

Quotations are valid for 10 days. Cutting to size in Turkey is available; installation is carried out by your fabricator.

What to send for a quotation

• Model or a reference photo of the stone
• Area (m²), thickness (2 or 3 cm), finish
• Use: bookmatched wall, floor, bathroom, worktop, outdoors
• Delivery city and target date

Frequently asked questions

Can I buy a single slab?

Yes. You can start with a single slab or a single bundle from stock.

Is marble suitable outdoors in Astana?

Only frost-resistant models with low water absorption, with a honed or sandblasted finish; ask for test reports.

Can onyx be used on floors?

We do not recommend it: onyx is soft. It belongs on walls, backlit panels and protected counters.

Do you cut to size?

Yes, to your dimensions in Turkey, or your fabricator cuts the slabs.

Is a TR CU declaration needed for marble?

TR CU 025/2012 covers furniture, not stone. Confirm the import documents for stone with your customs broker.

Sources

• Adıgüzel, M. and Şengüler, M. (2019). Investigation of Turkish Marble Sector and its Competitive Power. Üçüncü Sektör Sosyal Ekonomi Dergisi, 54(3), 1530-1546. doi:10.15659/3.sektor-sosyal-ekonomi.19.09.1202
• Kaptan, A. and Adıgüzel, M. (2023). Natural Stone Industry and Competitiveness in Turkey. İstanbul Ticaret University. doi:10.5281/zenodo.8378025
• Yavuz, A. B. and Topal, T. (2007). Thermal and salt crystallization effects on marble deterioration: Examples from Western Anatolia, Turkey. Engineering Geology, 90, 30-40. doi:10.1016/j.enggeo.2006.11.005
• Siegesmund, S. and Snethlage, R. (Eds.) (2014). Stone in Architecture: Properties, Durability. Springer. Springer
• U.S. General Services Administration. Marble: Characteristics, Uses and Problems. gsa.gov
• Republic of Türkiye, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. Natural Stones. enerji.gov.tr
• Stonenews.eu (2025). Turkey's marble exports in the first nine months of 2025. stonenews.eu
• EN 12058:2015 and EN 1469:2015. EN 12058, EN 1469
• Thomson Reuters (2026). VAT reform 2026: Kazakhstan moves to 16% from 1 January 2026