Granite, Quartz Imports Continue 2014 Boom

This year shapes up as the best in stone imports since the start of last decade’s recession, according to a Stone Update analysis of federal data.

Information from the U.S. Department of Commerce shows 2014 worked (or processed) granite imports running 25% ahead of last year’s pace, with the 1.67 million metric tons received through October as the best results since 2008.

Quartz surfaces, meanwhile, continues its explosive growth, with the 35 million ft² coming to the U.S. through October beating last year’s record volume by almost 50%.

Import data doesn’t represent all of those materials used in the United States surfaces, as it excludes domestic granite quarrying (as in Vermont, Georgia and Minnesota) or stateside quartz producers (such as Cambria or LG Hausys). However, the influx of materials through U.S. ports-of-entry offers a good measurement of overall demand and usage.

The 1,672,029 metric tons of worked granite sent here through October exceeds last year’s January-October totals by 25.3%. More than half (54.8%) of this year’s granite imports through October are from Brazil; its 917,706 metric tons sent to the United States is 51% ahead of the same time in 2013.

Brazil, through this October, easily outshines second-place China at 378,666 metric tons. India’s 195,858 metric tons and Italy’s 76,252 metric tons place third and fourth, respectively.

Total U.S. worked granite imports through 10 months in 2014 also beat the annual total for the material in any of the past five years. Given the pace of recent imports, 2014’s final total will easily top 2008’s year-end 1.71 million metric tons.

This year’s final total will remain be a far cry from the record 2.63 million metric tons received here in 2006, at the very top of the bubble of the hyper-inflated U.S. housing market of the mid 2000s.

Quartz surfaces, meanwhile, continue to ride the rocket in setting new market heights, with the import of 35,000,145 ft² of slabs through October surpassing totals from the same time last year by 49.3%. This year’s imports, in 10 months, already tower over 2013’s full-year total of 29,132,657 ft².

Not surprisingly, the hottest steam in the quartz-import engine comes from two countries and the corresponding companies: Spain (Cosentino/Silestone®) and Israel (Caesarstone). Through this October, it’s Israel in the lead at 9.46 million ft², followed closely by Spain at 8.95 million ft².

Israel’s own growth this year is spectacular; through the first 10 months, it’s outpacing itself by 68.9% from the same time last year. There’s also 44% growth for fourth-place Canada (4.02 million ft²), home to several quartz-surfaces producers (Hanwa L&C/HanStone® and DuPont/Zodiaq®, primarily).

Other quartz-import data may portend a shift, however, in the strong-brand channels of quartz surfaces in the United States to a wider market through Pacific Rim OEM products. Third place in imports through October belongs to China at 7.03 million ft², up 68% from the same time last year. And fifth is Vietnam, continuing an accelerated growth in the U.S. market by sending 2.21 million ft² … an amazing 481% ahead of the same time in 2013.

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