Stone-Ideas.com 
Dr. Carlo Montani’s statistical yearbook has ceased publication in 2022. For more than 30 years, the Italian expert provided the global natural stone sector with reliable data. His “XXXIII Rapporto marmo e pietre del mondo 2022 / XXXIII marble and stone in the world 2022“ was the last edition, unfortunately.
This year, for the first time, Stone-Ideas.com is attempting to create a replacement: On this website below, we are publishing download links to the national statistics of the major importing and exporting countries. Some of the data is available on the websites of national associations, some in magazines, and some of it has been posted as a PDF on our website.
We admit, this is a far cry from the service provided by Dr. Montani: We haven’t translated the statistics, nor do we correlate them.
But that could be done if readers are interested.
Our data is divided into two categories: First, we look at the major consumer countries, i.e., those whose own production cannot fully meet the demand, variety preferences, or price expectations of domestic customers. Consequently, they have to purchase stone from abroad – partly to prevent customers from being seduced by artificial stone or ceramics.
The USA is in first place, followed by Great Britain, Germany, Belgium, and Switzerland, as well as numerous other countries such as the Gulf States. Unfortunately, we only have data of the USA and Germany, until now.
Second, we look at the major exporting countries. These are India, Italy, Turkey, Brazil, Spain, and Portugal, as well as newcomers like Egypt. Here, too, only a few have data.
What’s missing from this list? Right, of course: China.
It ranks first in both categories: With its enormous domestic consumption, it is both the largest importer and the largest exporter. Its imports are limited exclusively to raw blocks; its exports are finished products at various stages of production.
We would be pleased if more countries would provide us with their statistics next year. Magazines can also participate – this year, “Stone Update“ provided us with a link to its annual overview of the USA. Editor-in-Chief Emerson Schwartzkopf is a profound expert on the North American market for both natural and engineered stone.
Stone-Ideas.com’s editorial team can be reached via Editor-in-Chief/Publisher Peter Becker (Mail).
By the way: Dr. Carlo Montani is healthy and well. The reason for the end of his annual publication is a disagreement with the publisher. If you would like to reach him, please send us an email.
US Imports: Online magazine “StoneUpdate“ with data on natural stone, engineered stone, and ceramics
Germany: Domestic consumption and production as well as imports and exports
Italy: Record exports of natural stone products, decline in machinery (1, 2)
Turkey exports: remain at previous year’s level
Brazil exports: USD 1.263 billion, a 12.7% increase compared to 2023, and recovery after two year of decline
Spain: Exports (value) -3,52%; Imports: -8.03%
Portugal: -5.37% by value to €470 million compared to the previous year