StatWatch: Quartz-Import Growth Rate Slows in August

November 5, 2012

U.S. quartz-slab shipments are still increasing, although value growth is down to the single digits.

While Spain maintains its lead in quartz-slab shipments, the country took a small step back in August. The value of material drops by more than 6% from 2011 levels, although this August’s $5.9 million is nearly $2 million ahead of its closest rival, Israel. Canadian and Italian import values continue to fall as some production for vendors shift to U.S.-based plants.

U.S. Quartz Slab Imports – Value
(U.S. dollars)

	Aug-12	Aug-12	Change
Spain	$5,970,874	$6,392,899	-6.6%
Israel	$3,999,135	$3,215,702	24.4%
China	$1,618,755	$733,806	120.6%
Canada	$1,396,248	$1,584,106	-11.9%
Italy	$599,987	$1,537,767	-61.0%
Portugal	$422,682	$27,610	1430.9%
India	$417,157	$309,256	34.9%
Vietnam	$325,665	$168,445	93.3%
Belgium	$290,531	$0	N/A
Korea	$177,775	$0	N/A
Hong Kong	$80,487	$0	N/A
Czech Republic	$60,624	$32,274	87.8%
Brazil	$23,799	$58,706	-59.5%
Germany	$0	$37,633	-100.0%

Total	$15,383,719	$14,098,204	9.1%

Source: U.S. International Trade Commission, Stone Update analysis

Spain also falls back ever-so-slightly from August 2011 in volume, with Israel and a resurgent China ramping up shipments. Vietnam, while not a major supplier, keeps growing its U.S. presence.

U.S. Quartz Slab Imports – Volume
(square feet)

	Aug-12	Aug-11	Change
Spain	610,227	620,873	-1.7%
Israel	465,743	285,900	62.9%
China	229,368	64,336	256.5%
Canada	106,778	145,980	-26.9%
Portugal	61,430	4,155	1378.5%
India	49,213	26,576	85.2%
Italy	38,933	120,577	-67.7%
Vietnam	38,707	13,078	196.0%
Belgium	32,356	0	N/A
Korea	22,507	0	N/A
Hong Kong	9,235	0	N/A
Czech Republic	8,310	4,381	89.7%
Brazil	980	5,220	-81.2%
Germany	0	3,681	-100.0%

Total	1,673,786	1,294,757	29.3%

Source: U.S. International Trade Commission, Stone Update* analysis*

StatWatch is a snapshot of U.S. dimensional-stone and hard-surfaces imports, offering a summary and exclusive Stone Update analysis of data from the U.S. International Trade Commission. Comparisons are made mainly to gauge market trends. Analysis is made on import figures of the latest month available.

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