2014: U.S. Quartz Imports Set Record (Again)

March 26, 2015

U.S. imports of quartz slabs took another big step up last year, as material volume and value grew by nearly half from 2013.

A Stone Update analysis of data from the U.S. International Trade Commission showed 43,705,601 ft² moving through ports-of-entry in 2014, a 46.6% increase from the previous year. Customs value for the slabs totaled $393.5 million, up 50.3% from the previous year.

Last year’s shipments continue an accelerated growth curve for quartz surfaces. The import figures offer a good estimation of the market, although the totals exclude domestic quartz-surface slab production by Cambria in LeSueur, Minn., and LG Hausys in Adairsville, Ga.

Israel edged to the top of the quartz-slab import list in 2014, with its 10,943,959 ft² reflecting a 60.5% increase from 2013. Perennial leader Spain came in a very close second at 10,865,285 ft², with a respectable growth of 15.3% from the previous year.

The numbers get even closer when moving from the abstract idea of square feet to actual product. Israel’s shipments outpaced Spain’s by a nominal 1,675+ standard slabs in 2014 – an amount roughly filling 30-40 containers.

China claimed a strong (and not-too-distant) third in import volume, sending 8,922,670 ft² for a 77.3% increase from 2013. Canada placed fourth at 4,943,310 ft² (up 40.8%), while Vietnam rounded out the top five at 2,778,733 ft² — a massive one-year increase of 237.1%.

Quartz Import Values per Square Foot
($1 million 2014 value minimum)

China	$7.57
Czech Republic	$7.87
India	$8.05
Portugal	$8.46
Belgium	$8.93
Vietnam	$9.01
Spain	$9.34
Israel	$9.40
Italy	$9.50
Korea	$9.71
Canada	$11.83

All 23 Importing Countries	$9.22

Source: U.S. International Trade Commission, Stone Update analysis

Italy, meanwhile, offered a moribund 2014, with its 1,030,051 ft² showing a frictional 1.0% decline from the previous year.

Israel also moved to #1 in 2014’s quartz-slab customs value, with its $102.8 million in 2014 providing another slight edge over Spain’s $101.4 million. China again claimed third with $67.5 million, followed by Canada ($58.4 million), Vietnam ($25.0 million) and Italy ($9.7 million).

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