StatWatch: Quartz Growth Slows Down

August 5, 2013

It’s a rare market where 20% annual growth – and a new U.S. import record – could be seen as a let-down, but quartz-import growth in May shows some slack developing in a hot material.

The all-time monthly high of $22.2 million in quartz-slab import values comes mainly with Spain’s $10.1 million (beating the previous record of its own $9.4 million in May 2012). Israel maintains a strong second at almost $4.8 million, with China continuing its strong 2013 run with $2.9 million. Canada completes the million-dollar club at $1.7 million; other significant gains include India besting May 2012 totals by 267.7%, and Korea doubling its year-to-year import values.

U.S. Quartz Slab Imports – Value
(square feet)

	May-13	May-12	Change
Spain	1,041,730	1,042,441	-0.1%
Israel	546,720	502,147	8.9%
China	392,247	209,498	87.2%
Canada	149,015	82,990	79.6%
India	97,015	25,478	280.8%
Belgium	36,683	80,869	-54.6%
Italy	32,873	24,520	34.1%
Vietnam	26,522	29,891	-11.3%
Korea	25,317	14,230	77.9%
Portugal	14,542	14,617	-0.5%
Turkey	14,477	366	3855.9%
Czech Republic	12,917	4,273	202.3%
Germany	7,901	0	N/A
Brazil	5,167	538	860.0%
Hong Kong	4,747	0	N/A
Kenya	2,573	0	N/A
Sweden	0	2,799	N/A

Total	2,410,446	2,034,657	18.5%
Source: U.S. International Trade Commission, Stone Update analysis

The 2.4 million ft² of quartz slab entering U.S. ports-of-entry this May also marks a new monthly high, although sector leader Spain send 711 ft² (or, given different Silestone® sizes, 13 to 16 slabs) less than May 2012. Israel maintains the second spot at 546,720 ft² (+8.9%) but China continues to ramp up at third with 392,247 ft² (+87.2%). Canada (+79.6%) and India (+280.8%) keep growing, with an additional nice turn (+77.9%) from Korea. Belgium takes the biggest dip in May with its 36,683 ft² (-54.6%).

U.S. Quartz Slab Imports – Volume
(square feet)

	May-13	May-12	Change
Spain	1,041,730	1,042,441	-0.1%
Israel	546,720	502,147	8.9%
China	392,247	209,498	87.2%
Canada	149,015	82,990	79.6%
India	97,015	25,478	280.8%
Belgium	36,683	80,869	-54.6%
Italy	32,873	24,520	34.1%
Vietnam	26,522	29,891	-11.3%
Korea	25,317	14,230	77.9%
Portugal	14,542	14,617	-0.5%
Turkey	14,477	366	3855.9%
Czech Republic	12,917	4,273	202.3%
Germany	7,901	0	N/A
Brazil	5,167	538	860.0%
Hong Kong	4,747	0	N/A
Kenya	2,573	0	N/A
Sweden	0	2,799	N/A

Total	2,410,446	2,034,657	18.5%
Source: U.S. International Trade Commission, Stone Update analysis

StatWatch is a snapshot of U.S. dimensional-stone and hard-surfaces imports, offering a summary and exclusive Stone Update analysis of data from the U.S. International Trade Commission. Comparisons are made mainly to gauge market trends. Analysis is made on import figures of the latest month available.

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