Montani: World Stone Volume Up 5% in 2013

VERONA, Italy – The volume of quarried and processed dimensional stone increased in 2013 by approximately 5% over the previous year, according to the XXV World Stone Report presented by Dr. Carlo Montani at Marmomacc last week.

Dr. Carlo MontaniThe annual stone study showed 2013 as another year of consolidation for the world stone industry: despite isolated cases in some countries. Quarrying and processing activities, trade and consumption levels increased, laying a foundation for future growth stretching for more than 20 years.

The study showed import-export volumes increasing by 2.8% from 2012, highlighting a larger proportional expansion on domestic markets. Asian countries drove the international market expansion.

The study also showed:

• Overall global production in 2013 came to 265 million metric tons, or an equivalent 1.42 billion square meters of 2cm-thickness slabs. Per capita use grew to 226 square meters per thousand units, against 215 in 2012 and 135 in 2003.
• In recent years, marble and stone have suffered from the international crisis less than other sectors, according to a summary of the report. Long-term trends over the past decade show net production increasing, on average, by 7% annually, and global trade grew on average by more than 10% in total. The use of marbles and stones also grew to a greater extent than ceramics, from 12%in 2000 to 15% today.
• Raw and processed stone materials accounted for more than 770 million equivalent square meters last year. The market share for unhewn materials increased to 52.7% of the total, highlighting a strategy that tends not to give priority to finished products.
• The top five manufacturers (in order: China, India, Turkey, Brazil, Italy) together cover more than two-thirds of the world quarry output, one percentage point higher that the overall share in 2012 and 20% more than the 1996 figure. This confirms the historical trend towards progressive concentration, which is generally also extended to processing and distribution phases.
• China, with about 40 million tons of quarried material, has consolidated its production leadership but it has not increased its quota.
• Prices, on the main markets, were generally stable and, in many cases, achieved some growth. China itself, where the average price of finished products achieved a steady recovery from 2003 onwards followed by setbacks only in 2009, posted a new high of $32.40/square meter exported, compared to $27.50 in the previous year.
• However, the price difference is considerable as regards mature economies, particularly in Western Europe, where the average price of processed materials in Italy is about $70 dollars per square meter, more than twice the price in China.

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