StatWatch: Quartz Slab Imports Boom in May

 

At $18.3 million in value and more than 2 million square feet, the May 2012 totals for quartz-slab import values set new monthly records.

In value, Spain far outpaces all other countries; its $9.4 million shows a 328% increase from the previous year, and accounts for more than half of all quartz-slab imports this May. Israel keeps pace with its current export rate at $4.3 million, a 10.8% gain from last may. China continues to build strength, coming only a few dollars short of $1.6 million and besting last May by 235.9%.

U.S. Quartz Slab Imports – Value
(U.S. dollars)
May-12 May-11 Change
Spain $9,441,633 $2,203,136 328.6%
Israel $4,349,151 $3,925,204 10.8%
China $1,599,923 $476,287 235.9%
Canada $957,818 $2,730,742 -64.9%
Belgium $809,158 $275,154 194.1%
Italy $459,045 $1,609,995 -71.5%
Vietnam $235,041 $26,407 790.1%
India $203,212 $383,503 -47.0%
Portugal $131,320 $65,001 102.0%
Korea $105,228 $45,794 129.8%
Sweden $31,297 $0 N/A
Czech Republic $30,642 $0 N/A
Brazil $10,232 $12,155 -15.8%
Turkey $2,596 $3,000 -13.5%
All Others $0 $79,776 N/A
Total $18,366,296 $11,836,154 55.2%
Source: U.S. International Trade Commission, Stone Update analysis

Spain dominates volume as well, becoming the first country to top the million-square-feet mark for one month with 1.04 million ft² in May – a stunning 453.8% increase from the previous year. Israel’s 502,147 ft² gives it a 79% boost from last May, and China moves 209,498 ft² into the United States for an annual gain of 259.4%.

U.S. Quartz Slab Imports – Volume
(square feet)
May-12 May-11 Change
Spain 1,042,441 188,218 453.8%
Israel 502,147 280,453 79.0%
China 209,498 58,287 259.4%
Canada 82,990 190,112 -56.3%
Belgium 80,869 20,634 291.9%
Vietnam 29,891 5,888 407.7%
India 25,478 36,414 -30.0%
Italy 24,520 116,627 -79.0%
Portugal 14,617 5,651 158.7%
Korea 14,230 5,371 164.9%
Czech Republic 4,273 0 N/A
Sweden 2,799 0 N/A
Brazil 538 732 -26.4%
Turkey 366 280 30.8%
All Others 0 8966 N/A
Total 2,034,657 917,633 121.7%
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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