Global Stone Production Up Slightly in 2011

VERONA, Italy – Stone production and trade increased slightly last year, due mainly to Asia’s influence.

Quarry production increased by 4% in volume last year, with import/export values moving up, according to the XXIII World Stone Industry Report that’s set for release at Marmomacc 2012 later this month in Verona.

The annual study, again developed by international stone expert Carlo Montani, tags 2011 quarry gross output (including offcuts and processing waste) at 240 million metric tons worldwide. That translates, according to the study, into a theoretical yield of 1.265 billion m² (or 13.616 billion ft²) of standard 2cm-thick material.

Asian countries led the way, notes the study, with China in first place, handling almost one-third of world production and more than 27% of trade. The seven major producers — in order: China, India, Iran, Turkey, Brazil, Italy and Spain – deal with 77% of world quarry output, one percent higher 2010 and eight percent better than 2005, confirming a trend towards progressive concentration.

The study also notes that 49.5 million metric tons of stone is shipped internationally, totalling an equivalent 730 million m² (7,857 million ft²) of volume. The share of unprocessed material grew in 2011; and, an absolute majority of world consumption – just under three-fifths –  concerns materials quarried and often processed in countries other than the country of installation.

China’s 2011 shipments, largely comprised of finished products, came to 13.5 million metric tons, with substantially monopoly positions in South Korea and Japan, as well as a strong presence in the United States and the European Union. China’s export values reached $5 billion, up 22.2% from the previous year.

Even Europe saw appreciable recoveries last year, as with Greece, Spain and Portugal. Stone demonstrated a specific capacity to counteract the effects of still very difficult short-term economic prospects in these countries.

However, Italy once again performed poorly, closing 2011 with a downturn in export quantities (net of by-products) – equal to 2.6%; this decrease worsens to 9.4% in the four-year period.

The phenomenon has been contained thanks to unhewn material that now comprises 47.7% of total shipments abroad. Finished products, however, have lost 25% from 2007 and a striking 42% compared to 2000. imilarly, Italian imports fell back by 4%, confirming the major difficulties in the processing sector and the added value crisis still very evident despite growth in world demand.

The machinery and capital goods sector performed better: Italian exports of natural-stone processing machinery came to roughly 830,000 metric tons and a value of €670 million, showing respective increases of 21.1% and 10%. The balance is complemented by capital goods, especially abrasives and diamond tools, where exports posted revenue of €234 million, up 5.9% from 2010.

The XXIII World Stone Industry Report, published in Italian and English, includes 136 statistical tables, plus specific research focusing on the Veronese stone sector.

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