StatWatch: U.S. Stone Imports, October 2012

OTHER CALCAREOUS VALUE
Total: $85 million (+56.3%)
Sector leader: China @ $1.9 million (+101.8%)

Backfill: Canada and China switch spots from this September; Canadian imports of $1.6 million in October, however, show a phenomenal 670.2% year-to-year growth. Italy’s $811,835 is behind this September but 93.9% ahead of October 2011.

OTHER CALCAREOUS VOLUME
Total: 10,338 metric tons (+61.7%)
Sector leader: Canada @ 2,374 metric tons (+149.4%)

Backfill: Canada keeps the lead in this usually volatile category, with China remaining a strong second at 1,878 metric tons (+46.8%). New Zealand makes its annual one-shot appearance, going from 32 metric tons total in January-September to 1,196 metric tons this October.

SLATE VALUE
Total: $4.7 million (7.7%)
Sector leader: China @ $2.6 million (+51.1%)

Backfill: India’s $1.2 million offers almost no gain (+0.3%) from October 2011, but Brazil moves up 43.8% to $459,471. The United Kingdom, meanwhile, dives to $13,475 – an 89.2% collapse from October 2011.

OTHER STONE VALUE
Total: $20.8 million (+49.8%)
Sector leader: Brazil @ $7.1 million (+121.4%)

Backfill: The omnibus category remains strong, with the top five exporters to the United States all showing double-digit gains from last October. India claims second at $5.6 million (+18.8%), but the big boom is China’s third-place at $2.7 million (+80.3%).

OTHER STONE VOLUME
Total: 22,513 metric tons (+48.4%)
Sector leader: Brazil @ 7,093 metric tons (+92.0%)

Backfill: Monthly tonnage totals continue to drop this year from the 26,000+ metric tons in August, but October 2012 still outpaces last year. India dropped to second place, but the 6,296 metric tons are 18.9% ahead of October 2011; China’s 3,268 metric tops tops last year by 65.1%. Canada also moves ahead at 2,141 metric tons (+35.0%).

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