Stone-Ideas.com 
The weakening (construction) economy worldwide was probably the reason for the poor results
Italy’s stone sector seems to have gained new strength: although there was a decline of (-)2.8% in exports of stone products in 2023 compared to the previous year, it was able to stay above the magic mark of two billion at €2.070 billion. The weakening economy worldwide was probably the reason for these negative figures, which were also seen in the other stone exporting nations: China -14.5%, Brazil -13.4%, Turkey -7.63%, Spain -4.95%.
A look at Germany confirms the situation: although it is not a major exporter, it is a major buyer and recorded a decline of -19.1% in natural stone consumption in 2023 due to a difficult situation in the construction business.
This contributed significantly to the Italians’ negative balance, as Germany is one of their most important trading partners (decline in 2022-2023 in natural stone end products: -6.7% to €140.6 million), according to figures from the Confindustria Marmomacchine association.
The most important buyer was the USA (-7.1% to €475.7 million)
Other buyer countries for the Italians: France (+5.5% to €107.8 million), Switzerland (-2.0% to €101.8 million), UAE (+24.2% to €62.8 million), UK (+0.6% to €59.7 million).
Sales of raw blocks increased: China (+2.7% to €180 million), India (+7.8% to €54.6 million).
In this respect, the -2.8% overall in Italy’s stone exports is no cause for alarm. After all, the country is emerging from a deep valley of tears, because after an export peak in 2015 of €2.008 billion, it had slipped to €1.503 billion by 2019; it was only after 2021 that respectable figures were reached again, which culminated in an all-time record of €2.1318 billion in 2022.
The outlook for 2024 is not necessarily bad: in the first seven months, exports to the USA rose by +6.7%, writes Flavio Marabelli, Honorary President of the association, on LinkedIn, adding a comparison with the situation in the ceramics industry: in fact, ceramics only managed +2.8% in the same period. This has reduced the traditional gap between the sectors somewhat, which is of course pleasing to the stone sector, even if that is mainly due to the high energy prices.
The figures for the first seven months 2024 for exports of machines and tools for natural stone are less encouraging: deliveries to the USA fell by a strong (-)22.4%. By comparison, the ceramics industry recorded a drop of as much as -49.2%!
Yet, the mood was probably relexed at the association’s general meeting in June of this year, because it was celebrating its 40th anniversary. It was founded in Milan on April 4, 1984 – brought about by a miracle of diplomacy and reconciliation between the often hostile competitors and was above all the achievement of the first president and publisher of two trade magazines, Angelo Marabelli.
A press release from the association gives overview figures for Italy’s stone sector: It comprises 3,200 companies with 34,000 employees. Sales in 2023 amounted to €4.5 billion, of which €3.2 billion came from exports.
At the beginning of 2024, a study on the importance of “Made in Italy” abroad was presented (title: “Italia: un valore nel mondo”). According to this study, the defining characteristics of the brand are “outstanding materials, high-quality design and the special image”.
„Italia: un valore nel mondo” (Italian)
(02.09.2024, USA: 09.02.2024)