2012 U.S. Quartz Imports Boom
The foreign flow of quartz surfaces continued in 2012, setting import records reminiscent of granite-slab traffic in the mid-2000s.
U.S. ports-of-entry saw 20,608,057 ft² of quartz slabs last year, up 63% from 2011, according to an exclusive Stone Update analysis of import figures from the U.S. International Trade Commission.
While the data doesn’t account for all quartz-surfaces use in the United States, the large push in imported material shows the continued rise in popularity for the man-made slabs.
Spain led all countries with 8.3 million ft² shipped here in 2012, up 78% from the previous year. Israel staked a strong second, with its 6.1 million ft² representing an impressive 118.3% annual rise.
China’s 2.3 million ft² (+82.5%) qualified for third, while India leapt into fifth with 520,478 ft² — a 101.9% increase. Other strong gainers in 2012 included Portugal at 423,138 ft² (200.4%) and Vietnam with 379,890 ft²(+154.8%).
Quartz-slab imports gained momentum during the year, with the biggest totals in the fourth quarter. December’s 2.3 million ft² set a new monthly record, and also beat the last month of 2011 by 112.4%.
Two major exporters suffered declines: Canada’s 1.2 million ft² last year showed a 20.4% annual drop, while Italy sank 60.4% to 478,649 ft². The tumbles, however, weren’t due to a drop in product demand, but from several foreign-based manufacturers throttling back imports as domestic slab-production plants began hitting production targets.
Overall customs value of U.S. quartz-slab imports last year totaled $191.7 million, up 32.2% from 2011. The leaders seemed to play a game of half-again, as Spain again topped the field at $78.8 million (+52.9%), while Israel held second at $56.1 million (+52.4%).
China went from fifth in 2011 to third last year in value at $17.7 million (+68.2%). Canada and Italy, meanwhile, also lost ground with value last year at $15.5 million (-23.9%) and $6.4 million (-57.2%), respectively.
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