2015 Italian Stone Exports Booming
VERONA, Italy – The Made in Italy natural-stone sector posted growth again in the first half of 2015, as revenues increased for natural-stone materials and the machinery to process them.
Between January and June, Italian exports of marble, granite and other natural stone posted an increase of 5.2% compared to the same period in 2014, thanks to revenues of €978.1 million from international orders. Finished and semi-finished products provided the upside with sales totalling €777 million (+7.3%), while raw materials (€201.1 million) posted a slight downturn (-2.3%).
Italian quarrying and processing machinery and technologies, meanwhile, posted double-digit growth of 28.8% in first-half 2015 with revenues of €616.1 million.
The data – analyzed by the Marmomacc-Confindustria Marmomacchine Observatory – went public just before yesterday’s opening of the 50th edition of Marmomacc, running at the Verona Exhibition Centre through Saturday.
“The positive results in the first half year for sector exports – for materials and technologies alike – are the best response to the Italian Ministry of Economic Development’s decision to include our sector in the special Made in Italy Promotion Plan, which envisages the allocation of funds to promote the main sectors in national industry through the reference trade fair platforms,” said Flavio Marabllli, honorary president of Confindustria Marmomacchine. “Overall, our sector is still one of landmark industrial fields in Italy, with exports in 2014 coming to just under 3 billion euros and a balance of trade in the black by almost €2.5 billion.”
The main outlet markets for processed materials in the first six months of the year once again saw the United States in first place with €218.7 million (+30.2%), followed by Germany, with €71.3 million. Despite international tensions, Russia remained the largest customer for Italian companies in the East, with €23.5 million (+6.6%).
Asia is still the reference area among buyers of unhewn Italian stone. In the first half of 2015, exports to India increased (€44.1 million / +30.7%), while China (€58.9 million / -8.5%) saw a downturn despite remaining the main outlet for unprocessed blocks of Italian natural stone.
With stone-related equipment, the United States again led in exports, with orders worth €65.8 million and an increase of 82% compared to the first half of 2014. Brazil also put in a good performance with €50.6 million (+78.6%), while Turkey dropped back to third place (€33.5 million / -16.2%). Germany, as the leading European market, confirmed fourth place overall with imports worth €31 million (+12.6%).
The upbeat news comes with the opening of the 50th edition of Marmomacc.
“For 50 editions, Marmomacc has been the first platform for global promotion and development of the natural stone industry,” said Ettore Riello, President of Veronafiere. “This year there are 1,524 exhibitors, comprising 588 from Italy and 936 from 55 international countries, with more than 60,000 professional visitors expected from 140 countries. The event plays a strategic role in this sector.”
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