U.S. Surface Imports May 2017

May 2017 brings another one of those marginally good months for U.S. imports of dimensional hard surfaces, with a bit of weakness in granite, bold growth with quartz slabs, and general improvement in other categories. seem to be more of the same … as in more recovery for granite, and more of a stupendous growth curve for quartz slab.

Imports of “worked” (cut, one side polished) showed some slowdown when compared to the same time last year, down 8.5%. Much of that can be traced to China’s 34,508 metric tons making a 22.8% dip from last May. Market leader Brazil, meanwhile, pepped up to one of its best showings this year; the 73,091 metric tons sent to the United States is a bare 0.2% behind the same time last year.

China slowed its growth rate somewhat in quartz slab. Instead of doubling its monthly shipment from last year (as it did in April), China’s May totals show only(!?!) a 48.6% growth from 2016. Other countries also showed dynamic May-to-May growth, such as Spain’s 68%, as the overall monthly import total nears the 10-million ft² mark.

Other stone sectors stay on pace, including some recovery for travertine as Turkey reverses a regressive mode in U.S. shipments. Those following the flags will also see a new entry — albeit with a tiny sliver — as Haiti makes the charts in other calcareous..

WORKED GRANITE

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May 2017: 150,094 metric tons

 

Change from previous year: -8.5%

 

Market leader: Brazil, 73,091 metric tons

 

Change from previous year: -0.2%

 

 

WORKED MARBLE

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May 2017: 41,040 metric tons

 

Change from previous year: +13.8%

 

Market leader: China, 11,535 metric tons

 

Change from previous year: +44.2%

 

 

QUARTZ SURFACES

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May 2017: 9,399,985 ft²

 

Change from previous year: +34.3%

 

Market leader: China, 4,878,447 ft²

 

Change from previous year: +48.6%

 

 

 

 

TRAVERTINE

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May 2017: 38,236 metric tons

 

Change from previous year: -8.0%

 

Market leader: Turkey, 26,939 metric tons

 

Change from previous year: +3.9%

 

 

 

OTHER CALCAREOUS

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  May 2017: 20,108 metric tons

 

Change from previous year: +46.0%

 

Market leader: Canada, 5,848 metric tons

 

Change from previous year: +188.2%

 

 

OTHER STONE

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May 2017: 50,173 metric tons

 

Change from previous year: +27.0%

 

Market leader: Brazil, 22,022 metric tons

 

Change from previous year: +31.5%