2011 Italian Stone Exports Up Through May

CARRARA, Italy – Italian exports of granite and marble blocks/slabs from January-May show an increase from 2010.

The data, released yesterday by Internazionale Marmi e Macchine (IMM) Carrara S.p.A., reports shipments of 73,183 metric tons of granite/blocks slabs during this year’s first five months, a 10.1-percent increase from the same time in 2010. Exports of marble block/slabs through May total 517,538 metric tons, up 5.9 percent from the previous year.

The results are split on more-processed products, however. Finished granite exports come to 240,381 metric tons for the first five months this year, offering an eight-percent gain; the 317,294 metric tons of finished-marble exports, meanwhile, reveal a 10.2-percent drop from the same time in 2010.

Overall stone exports (including all other stones, plus chips and powders) total 1.65 metric tons for January-May, representing a small 1.6-percent increase. The overall export value of €645.5 million, however, offers a 10.4-percent gain from the same time in 2011; value gains run across the board in all stone categories.

The IMM report noted that the European market showed the best performance for importing Italian stone, with a significant reduction in marble shipments to Africa.

The report also noted a reduction in tonnage of finished-marble product to the United States that’s somewhat offset by an increase in the value-per-ton of the goods. Overall Italian stone exports to the United States from January-May are up 0.7 percent in volume and 4.4 percent in value from the same time last year.