Italy’s Stone Sector a Trade “Plus” in 2023

MILAN, Italy – The Italian stone industry posted a trade surplus last year, according to the Confindustria Marmomacchine trade group.

Flavio Marabelli, honorary president of the natural stone and stone-technology industry association, told the group’s general assembly here late last month that the sector exported 71.2% of its production and ended up with a trade surplus of more than €2.7 billion.

Marabelli also noted in his technical-economic report that the Italian stone sector brought in €4.5 billion in revenue, through its 3,200+ companies and 34,000 employees.

More than 190 delegates, including industry members from across Italy and representatives of the principal governmental and business organizations, attended the assembly.

The assembly also included a videoconference speech by the Minister of Business and the Made in Italy (MIMIT), Adolfo Urso, along with a panel discussion of “Growth and Internationalization between complexities and new global equilibriums.” Participants included Lorenzo Galanti, Director General of the Italian Trade Agency; Alessandra Pastorelli, Plenipotentiary Minister within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI); and Federico Bricolo, president of Veronafiere.

The assembly also elected Gianluca Pellegrino, director of Basaltina S.r.l., as president for the 2024/2026 term. . Pellegrino takes over the leadership from Federico Fraccaoli of Fraccaroli e Balzan S.p.a.

The assembly also elected four vice-presidents who will work with Pellegrino until 2026: Francesco Antolini (Antolini Luigi & C. S.p.a.); Nicoletta Caruso (Marmi e Graniti d’Italia Sicilmarmi S.p.a.); Alessandro Ferrari (Tenax S.p.a.); and Flavio Stenico (Steinex S.r.l.).