U.S. Stone Imports 2004: Factor of Two

Other calcareous stone, as a whole, may decrease significantly in 2005, but it’s not for a lack of demand. The sector’s import numbers could get smaller if the U.S. Customs Bureau makes an anticipated move and adds limestone imports into the statistics for marble.

Import values of other stone in 2004 added up to $226 million, a 10-percent increase from 2003. Italy led all countries with $46.9 million, but it’s also been losing value share since 2000; Brazil is the main beneficiary, placing second at $42.7 million. India is a strong third at $39.3 million; other major countries are Canada at $30.3 million and China at $23.4 million.

Slate imports, meanwhile, seems to be the territory of two countries: India and China. With $96.2 million in U.S. import values last year, India shipped $39.8 million and China sent in $30.1 million – or 41.4 percent and 31.3 percent of the market, respectively. Other major players in 2004 are Brazil with $10.9 million and Italy at $8.6 million.

Overall, 2004 U.S. slate import values improved by 23 percent from the previous year.

Data for this article, and for accompanying charts, is derived from information reported by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Treasury and the U.S. International Trade Commission. All analysis is made using comparable data. “Cut /slab” data excludes crude/roughly trimmed stone comprised of marble/travertine, granite or other categories where volume measurement is in cubic meters instead of metric tons. Marble/travertine crude/roughly trimmed stone data is not included in value summaries, since the two stones are not delineated in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (2002) (Revision 2).

Original publication ©2005 Western Business Media Inc. Use licensed to the author.

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