U.S. Stone Imports 2007: Going Down

Spain’s $48 million in worked-marble import values ran a distant second, gaining 10.4 from 2006. The biggest gainers, though, are China, with $44.6 million (up 43.6 percent) and Turkey’s $25.1 million (up 55.4 percent).

The 292,448 metric tons of marble entering the United States last year is an 8.1-percent gain from 2006 – a modest increase when compared to previous years, but stellar for 2007. Italy shipped in 83,494 metric tons – a 5.9-percent decrease from 2006 – while China moved into second place with 57,946 tons, besting its 2006 effort by 33.9 percent.
 
Spain’s 48,688 metric tons of worked-marble imports represent a 2.7-percent drop, while Turkey ups its total ot 34,865 metric tons, or a 58.4-percent increase.

In average value per metric ton, Italy gains top-dollar status in 2007 at $1,624.16, up 19.4 percent from 2006. Spain also posts a double-digit increase of 13.4 percent at $986.41. China’s $770.07 in 2007 is only 7.2 percent ahead of the previous year, while Turkey – despite a strong position by the new lira against the U.S. dollar – marks a 1.8-percent decline at $721.52

TRAVERTINE

Sometimes predictions miss the mark. Using data from mid-year 2007, I pegged a decline in the import volume of travertine, but thought the value of the material would increase marginally. As it turned out, values went down as well.

The $539.2-million import value of travertine entering the United States last year represents a 1.4-percent drop from 2006. The clear leader in travertine – Turkey – accounts for 63.5 percent of the total value, and its $347.4 million is only 0.8-percent less than 2006. Mexico’s $101.3 million represents a 1.8-percent drop. Italy’s share shrinks again to $38.5 million – down 14.7 percent – while Peru’s $23.9 million is up 7.9 percent from 2006.

For the first time in more than a decade, however, Turkey fails to top itself in annual import volume of travertine; the 641,902 metric tons at U.S. ports-of-entry in 2007 are a 7.6-percent drop from the previous year. The 41,940 metric tons from Italy last year are a 28.4-percent slide from 2006, and Peru marks a 10.3-percent decline at 27,391 metric tons.

Mexico’s 126,001 metric tons, however, are a robust 8.7-percent hike from 2006 levels. The average import value per metric ton for Mexican travertine also drops 9.7 percent in 2007 to $804.55. (The U.S. dollar also gains 1 percent in buying power against the Mexican peso in 2007.)

Turkey’s average import value per metric ton, meanwhile, increases 7.4 percent in 2007 to $533.57. Italy’s average increases 19.1 percent to $918.61, while Peru goes up 20.2 percent from 2006 to $875.85. (The U.S. dollar meanwhile, lost 3 percent in buying power against the Peruvian nuevo sol.)

SLATE

The mid-term report on U.S. imports of slate last year didn’t look promising. The prediction of a 4-percent to 5-percent drop at the end of 2007, unfortunately, proved optimistic.