2014 Stone Imports Still in Double-Digit Growth

Although granite imports cooled in August, it’s still been a good year so far for U.S. stone imports, according to an exclusive Stone Update analysis of data from the U.S International Trade Commission.

The oft-watched “worked” (slab and tiles) granite section showed 151,629 metric tons of shipments this August, offering an increase of only 75 metric tons from August 2013. Brazil accounted for more than half of this August’s totals at 83,639 metrics, up 4.8% year-to-year; however, China and India shipments declined by 24.6% and 27.8%, respectively.

The humdrum shipments in August didn’t blunt the year-to-day growth in U.S. granite imports, however. In the first eight months of this year, 1.21 million metric tons moved through stateside ports-of-entry – a 14.2% increase from January-August 2013.

Worked marble, meanwhile, totaled 32,110 metric tons in August 2014, a 30.4% increase from the previous year with 32,110 metric tons. Italy’s 9,968 metric tons (+12.1) led all countries, but Turkey ramped up marble exports to the United States to 7,803 metric tons, a 95% year-to-year increase. China showed a strong third at 6,102 metric tons (+12.7%), followed by Spain at 3,562 metric tons (+40%).

Turkey provided the muscle in lifting U.S. travertine year-to-year August imports by 15.1% to 53,769 metric tons. The country’s 25.9% increase from August 2013 to 45,582 metric tons more than compensated for significant decreases from Mexico (-21.4%), Italy (-24.8%), China -5.1%) AND Peru (-41.7%).

Other calcareous stone imports in August moved up 39% from the previous year, although – as often seen in the category – at least one country recorded a shock increase value. In August, Italy took the big turn with its 3,125 metric tons, pulling a 499.8% increase from August 2013. Canada also made a big jump (216.9%) with its 1,591 metric tons.

Slate imports took a step back in August, with the $5.6 million in customs value showing a 6.6% decrease from the same month last year. (Non-roofing slate imports aren’t measured in weight.) China’s $2.8 million (-9.8%) and India’s $1.5 million (-11.6%) led the decline.

Slate-import totals of $39 million from January-August this year, however, still offer an overall increase from the same time in 2013, but it’s only a slight uptick: 1.4%.

The catch-all “other stone” category, meanwhile, continued a sluggish performance this year, with August’s 27,438 metric tons showing a 9.5% decline from the previous year. Brazil led the import field with 10,378 metric tons (-8.6%); India dropped by 4.4%, and China declined by 3.1%.

The year-to-date numbers for other stone aren’t much better. The 198,116 metric tons shipped to the United States from January-August this year are 7.1% behind the same time in 2013.

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