StatWatch: Quartz-Import Growth Rate Slows in August

 

U.S. quartz-slab shipments are still increasing, although value growth is down to the single digits.

While Spain maintains its lead in quartz-slab shipments, the country took a small step back in August. The value of material drops by more than 6% from 2011 levels, although this August’s $5.9 million is nearly $2 million ahead of its closest rival, Israel. Canadian and Italian import values continue to fall as some production for vendors shift to U.S.-based plants.

U.S. Quartz Slab Imports – Value
(U.S. dollars)
Aug-12 Aug-12 Change
Spain $5,970,874 $6,392,899 -6.6%
Israel $3,999,135 $3,215,702 24.4%
China $1,618,755 $733,806 120.6%
Canada $1,396,248 $1,584,106 -11.9%
Italy $599,987 $1,537,767 -61.0%
Portugal $422,682 $27,610 1430.9%
India $417,157 $309,256 34.9%
Vietnam $325,665 $168,445 93.3%
Belgium $290,531 $0 N/A
Korea $177,775 $0 N/A
Hong Kong $80,487 $0 N/A
Czech Republic $60,624 $32,274 87.8%
Brazil $23,799 $58,706 -59.5%
Germany $0 $37,633 -100.0%
Total $15,383,719 $14,098,204 9.1%
Source: U.S. International Trade Commission, Stone Update analysis

Spain also falls back ever-so-slightly from August 2011 in volume, with Israel and a resurgent China ramping up shipments. Vietnam, while not a major supplier, keeps growing its U.S. presence.

U.S. Quartz Slab Imports – Volume
(square feet)
Aug-12 Aug-11 Change
Spain 610,227 620,873 -1.7%
Israel 465,743 285,900 62.9%
China 229,368 64,336 256.5%
Canada 106,778 145,980 -26.9%
Portugal 61,430 4,155 1378.5%
India 49,213 26,576 85.2%
Italy 38,933 120,577 -67.7%
Vietnam 38,707 13,078 196.0%
Belgium 32,356 0 N/A
Korea 22,507 0 N/A
Hong Kong 9,235 0 N/A
Czech Republic 8,310 4,381 89.7%
Brazil 980 5,220 -81.2%
Germany 0 3,681 -100.0%
Total 1,673,786 1,294,757 29.3%
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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