StatWatch: Quartz Doubles Up

 

Quartz-slab imports literally and figuratively double in November 2012, due mainly to a huge infusion of material from Israel.

Israel takes first place again in November 2012 with a 197.4% surge from the previous year to $8.0 million. Spain remains strong at $7.1 million last November (+28.6%), with China a solid third at $1.8 million (+88.8%. Vietnam continues its climb to $404.549 – a 217.1% November-to-November increase.

U.S. Quartz Slab Imports – Value
(U.S. dollars)
Nov-12 Nov-11 Change
Israel $8,095,365 $2,722,202 197.4%
Spain $7,185,547 $5,587,879 28.6%
China $1,843,572 $976,713 88.8%
Canada $1,364,998 $977,104 39.7%
Vietnam $404,549 $127,559 217.1%
India $391,300 $164,422 138.0%
Italy $356,315 $995,637 -64.2%
Belgium $187,974 $383,688 -51.0%
Portugal $169,589 $133,385 27.1%
Korea $130,888 $139,366 -6.1%
Czech Republic $61,084 $63,898 -4.4%
Brazil $55,227 $0 N/A
Germany $24,954 $0 N/A
Taiwan $16,128 $0 N/A
Hong Kong $13,449 $0 N/A
Turkey $0 $9,905 -100.0%
Total $20,300,939 $12,281,758 65.3%
Source: U.S. International Trade Commission, Stone Update analysis

Israel almost breaks the million-square-foot barrier last November, shipping 968,611 ft² for a 334.4% spike from November 2011. Spain shows some of its best activity of 2012 at 768,661 ft² (+46.9%), while China cranks it up 126.4% from the previous November to 287,924 ft². Vietnam turns a triple act, jumping 200.7% to 43,368 ft².

U.S. Quartz Slab Imports – Volume
(square feet)      
       
  Nov-12 Nov-11 Change
Israel 968,611 222,985 334.4%
Spain 768,661 523,341 46.9%
China 287,924 127,197 126.4%
Canada 107,273 99,028 8.3%
Vietnam 43,368 14,424 200.7%
India 41,183 15,758 161.3%
Italy 36,425 76,822 -52.6%
Portugal 25,209 16,996 48.3%
Korea 17,470 20,581 -15.1%
Czech Republic 8,450 8,191 3.2%
Hong Kong 4,844 0 N/A
Germany 4,392 0 N/A
Belgium 3,488 34,100 -89.8%
Brazil 1,765 0 N/A
Taiwan 1,259 0 N/A
Turkey 0 549 -100.0%
Total 2,320,320 1,159,972 100.0%
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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