StatWatch October 2019: Mixed Market

By Emerson Schwartzkopf

300 daniel von appenU.S. quartz-surface imports remained firm in October, even with the threat of new tariffs against two countries fueling the supply.

China’s abandoment of the U.S. quartz-surface market after high tariffs should’ve taken import numbers into a steep dive; the country shipped more than 4.9 million ft² in October 2018 and less than 30,000 ft² this year. However, quartz-surface imports grew by nearly 6%, as countries as diverse as Italy, India, Israel and Malaysia posted gains.

India and Turkey, while shipping large amounts this October, also scaled back from earlier this year, as importers waited for initial unfair-trade tariff decisions from the U.S. Commerce Department. Volume from both countries may be soft through the end of the year.

All data is from the U.S. International Trade Commission, along with Stone Update analysis.(Comparisions with October 2018 data is shown in parentheses.)

A side note: Hard-surface import data and news easily outpaces anything else at stoneupdate.com to capture your interest. We’re going to offer something new in 2020 that you’ll like as readers (and advertisers). Get on the early list to know more by emailing me at emerson@stoneupdate.com.

 

QUARTZ SURFACES

Total: 12,413,037 ft² (5.9%)

Sector Leader: India, 3,228,158 ft² (184.4%)

Backfill: India and Turkey slowed down 2019 growth in October, due to the uncertain (at that point) degree of unfair tarifts they’d receive. However, both are way ahead of October 2018, along with Vietnam, Taiwan, Spain and Italy. Malaysia didn’t export one slab last October, but it’s now the eighth-largest shipper of quartz surfaces to the United States.

(square feet)      
  19-Oct 18-Oct Change
TOTAL 12,413,037 11,719,788 5.9%
       
India 3,228,158 1,134,956 184.4%
Spain 2,531,712 1,134,956 123.1%
Vietnam 1,403,074 202,254 593.7%
Israel 915,846 806,087 13.6%
Turkey 828,777 452,439 83.2%
Canada 757,972 673,734 12.5%
Italy 565,514 139,726 304.7%
Malaysia 493,299 0 N/A
Taiwan 312,950 63,701 391.3%
Czech Republic 301,228 196,872 53.0%
South Korea 292,304 104,797 178.9%
Brazil 264,555 74,013 257.4%
Germany 235,127 65,025 261.6%
Belgium 91,461 19,816 361.5%
Portugal 73,647 146,077 -49.6%
Mexico 38,276 0 N/A
China 28,987 4,954,150 -99.4%
Philippines 27,609 0 N/A
Hong Kong 8,482 31,495 -73.1%
Estonia 5,952 0 N/A
Sri Lanka 3,853 0 N/A
Romania 2,486 366 579.4%
Indonesia 1,496 0 N/A
Netherlands 269 0 N/A
Source: U.S. International Trade Commission, Stone Update analysis

 

WORKED GRANITE

Total: 110,232 metric tons (-5.3%)

Sector Leader: Brazil, 57,406 metric tons (6.5%)

Backfill: Worked (sawn, one-side polished) granite took another step back, although sector leader Brazil kept ahead of last year’s pace. The big hit came from China, with October 2019 shipments down 41.2% from the previous year.

(metric tons)      
  19-Oct 18-Oct Change
TOTAL 110,232 116,422 -5.3%
       
Top Countries      
Brazil 57,406 53,906 6.5%
India 20,357 21,541 -5.5%
China 16,858 28,658 -41.2%
Italy 6,712 2,130 215.1%
Spain 5,191 6,941 -25.2%
Canada 2,582 1,501 72.0%
Source: U.S. International Trade Commission, Stone Update analysis

 

 

WORKED MARBLE

Total: 45,878 metric tons 26.4%)

Sector Leader: Turkey, 22,096 metric tons (+121.7%)

Backfill: The growth engine here is Turkey, which more than doubled October 2018 shipments; Brazil continued to show good growth. It’s also another sector with a 40%-plus year-to-year loss from China.

(metric tons)      
  19-Oct 18-Oct Change
TOTAL 45,878 36,300 26.4%
       
Top Countries      
Turkey 22,096 9,968 121.7%
India 7,533 7,366 2.3%
Italy 5,233 5,866 -10.8%
Brazil 4,287 3,050 40.6%
China 4,084 7,244 -43.6%
Source: U.S. International Trade Commission, Stone Update analysis

 

 

TRAVERTINE

Total: 22,732 metric tons (1.4%)

Sector Leader: Turkey, 17,084 metric tons (6.5%)

Backfill: Growth that isn’t due to a one-month-wonder boom with a country, as sector leader Turkey and #2 Mexico produce some positive numbers. And China isn’t 40% down from 2018 here — the decline is close to 70%.

(metric tons)      
  19-Oct 18-Oct Change
TOTAL 22,732 22,417 1.4%
       
Top Countries      
Turkey 17,804 16,714 6.5%
Mexico 3,555 3,377 5.3%
Italy 574 865 -33.6%
Peru 281 284 -1.1%
China 245 773 -68.3%
Spain 163 172 -5.2%
Source: U.S. International Trade Commission, Stone Update analysis

 

OTHER CALCAREOUS

Total: 9,167 metric tons (-21.8%)

Sector Leader: Canada, 1,815 metric tons (-42.8%)

(metric tons)      
  19-Oct 18-Oct Change
TOTAL 9,167 11,722 -21.8%
       
Top Countries      
Canada 1,815 3,173 -42.8%
Turkey 1,126 1,566 -28.1%
China 1,061 2,156 -50.8%
Portugal 856 880 -2.7%
Italy 743 820 -9.4%
Spain 575 237 142.6%
India 538 444 21.2%
Mexico 512 409 25.2%
Source: U.S. International Trade Commission, Stone Update analysis

 

OTHER STONE

Total: 36,696 metric tons (-16.8%)

Sector Leader: Brazil, 11,311 metric tons (-41.3%)

(metric tons)      
  19-Oct 18-Oct Change
TOTAL 36,698 44,103 -16.8%
       
Top Countries      
Brazil 11,311 19,285 -41.3%
Mexico 9,818 477 1958.3%
China 5,524 5,506 0.3%
India 5,314 13,568 -60.8%
Canada 1,645 2,050 -19.8%
Italy 1,116 1,716 -35.0%
Source: U.S. International Trade Commission, Stone Update analysis

 

 

Get the news of the industry with Slab & Sheet, the e-newsletter from Stone Update. Sign up for free delivery here.

For the latest industry info, check Stone Update on Twitter and Facebook.

Experience the totally new Stone Update Magazine online.