StatWatch November 2019:See-Saw
By Emerson Schwartzkopf
Can the U.S. market for imported quartz surfaces survive a series of tariffs? The data from last November says yes.
While the sector failed to reach record levels, quartz-slab shipments in November 2019 outpaced the previous year. And that’s with the virtual disappearance of China with its large unfair-trade tariffs and a slowdown from India and Turkey as the U.S. Commerce Department considered tariff action. (The India/Turkey duties were announced in December.)
November 2019”s granite and marble imports also beat the previous year’s levels. China turned around its recent declines in granite shipments with a 25% increase from November 2018, which helped offset a drop from Brazil. Turkey, meanwhile, pushed marble well ahead of 2018 levels.
The “others” – Other Calcareous and Other Stone – fared terribly in November 2019. The two sectors not only fell behind 2018 levels; November also signaled the worst month of 2019.
StatWatch features a different look this month, with interactive features for the line charts (move a cursor or – with touchscreens – a finger over points to see the numbers) and bar charts that clearly show amounts and performance. I’m hoping you like it, because it’s a dress rehearsal for …
… Hard-Surface Report, a new monthly e-publication debuting from Stone Update in March. You’ll get an in-depth and interactive look at U.S. hard-surface imports that’s colorful and easy to read. We’re taking the mind-numbing out of the numbers to make them valuable for you.
You’ll hear more between now and mid-March. Stay tuned.
QUARTZ SLABS
The specter of unfair-trade tariffs hung over India and Turkey in November, causing a continued overall dip in quartz-slab imports from summer 2019 levels. Combined imports, however, remained high compared to 2018, indicating that there’s life in the U.S. quartz market after China. (Interactive chart)
Spain led all quartz-slab exporters to the United States with nearly 3 million ft² in November. India and Turkey still ran well ahead of 2018, but the uncertainty over tariffs continued to curtail late 2019 growth. Turkey’s slowdown enabled Malaysia to leap up to sixth overall. (All quartz-slab data in square feet.)
WORKED GRANITE
Worked (sawn, one-side polished) granite imports reversed a five-month slide and posted a gain from 2018. November’s shipments were the highest total arriving at U.S. ports-of-entry since June. (Interactive chart)
Worked granite’s gain in November came from increased exports from China, along with a boost from Canada. The growth offset a downturn in year-to-year performance from sector leader Brazil.
WORKED MARBLE
Turkey’s continued growth in U.S.-bound shipments keep this sector far above 2018’s level. Worked marble should finish with one of its best years in a decade (at least).(Interactive chart)
Turkey’s massive year-to-year gain offset declines from November 2018 from India and China.(Data in metric tons.)
TRAVERTINE
November’s 2019 growth didn’t match 2018 levels, but at least the sector is on a two-month uptick — and well above 2019’s Awful April. (Interactive chart)
Turkey dominates U.S. travertine imports. November 2019 lagged behind the previous year, but at least the country shipped 20,000 metric tons. (All data in metric tons.)
OTHER CALCAREOUS
Imports in 2019 for other calcareous continue to trail 2018 levels, and November’s no exception. It’s the worst month of the year for an always-volatile sector.(Interactive chart)
Italy usually tops all other-calcareous shippers in value, but it also takes the lead in volume for November 2019. The 50%+ gain in its own exports helped, but Italy’s main reason for the move-up is the 50% decline from the usual leaders of Turkey and China.
OTHER STONE
Imports of Other Stone really do drop like a rock at year’s end, but November signaled a major decline for the year. Its also the worst month of 2019 for the sector. (Interactive chart)
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