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

 

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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