At the inauguration of the 49th
The report reveals that the trade in natural stone in 2013 was in excess of US$22 billion (€17.3 billion) with quarried and processed material volumes totalling 265 million tonnes, an increase of 5% over the previous year.
China, India, Turkey and Italy are the top four exporters with a 61% share of total, while Italy stands at the top of the technologies sector, with one-third of the world market.
These are just some of the details in the report, which says that between 1990 and 2013, international natural stone production grew by 180%, from 46 to 130 million tonnes, equal to 1.4 billion equivalent square metres (based on the conventional slab thickness of 2cm), while consumption levels boomed by 185%.
This is a trend of steady increase over the years that becomes even more apparent when taking into account that the last half-century has seen more marble and granite used than in all previous eras.
For 25 years, the report has been an analytical and informative tool for all sector operators, with more than 200,000 figures organised in tables and statistics.
Marble is increasingly used as a constructive and decorative material, with per capita usage up in 2013 to 226m² every thousand units, against 215 the previous year and 135 in 2003.
This general expansion, however, is matched by progressive concentration of production in a handful of countries.
“Since the 1960s, the balance of power has changed radically, with the top four producers, China, India, Turkey and Brazil, expanding from 30% to 61% global production..,” says Montani.
“As regards trade, 2013 posted values of US$22 billion, 58.5% of which is in the hands of the top four exporting countries: China, Italy, Turkey and India.
“Stone boasts an extremely long history and will have an equally long future by combining technology, aesthetics and professional values: in a word, quality. Translated into numbers, prospects through to 2020 indicate total output of at least 170 million tonnes, equal to 1.8 billion equivalent m².”
A more complete summary of XXV World Stone Report is available
