Vitória Stone Fair: Global Brand, Building Partnerships

VITÓRIA, Brazil – One of the world’s most important trade fairs, Vitória Stone Fair | Marmomacc Latin America wants to increase international partnerships in 2017 and establish itself as a pulsating environment for entrepreneurs, investors and consumers in the marble and granite market.

The 43rd edition of the event, set for Feb. 14-17 at the Carapina Events Center in Vitória, aims to consolidate itself as a reference global brand of the ornamental stone sector, as Brazil has more than 1,200 varieties.

The international benchmark of the fair reflects a sector that has proven to be one of the most resilient of the Brazilian economic activity. In times of recession, the marble and granite entrepreneurs managed to cope better with adversity and to set down roots in the foreign market.

This strengthening is due to the investment made in the last five years in production and extraction. Entrepreneurs took advantage of the favorable price of the dollar to build an industrial park equipped with the latest technology.

And investment has resulted in a positive result. In the first half of the year, Espírito Santo, the largest producer in Brazil, registered exports of marble and granite of $501 million, 62% of total sales for the country in 2015. If the sales pace is maintained, the result of this year will surpass last year, underlining the dynamism of the sector.

Good sales were pulled by the United States, Asian and Italian markets.

The Brazilian ornamental stone sector has a strong partner in the Italian market. The machinery origin of the sector is primarily Italian; many companies take advantage of the fair to see machines, equipment and inputs coming directly from the European country.

According to the Ministry of Development, in the first half of this year, imports of machinery, equipment and technology for the stone sector of Espírito Santo totaled $25.5 million, almost what was purchased in all of 2015 ($38.8 million). With the beginning of the Brazilian economy recovery, exports and imports may double.

This symbiosis of Vitória Stone Fair | Marmomacc Latin America will be strengthened at the fair next year, with special dedication to foreign attendees. The fair is increasing its Buyers Club program, responsible for bringing to the event buyers and potential importers of the sector – and will receive foreign delegations, following the success of more than 60 countries visited the event this year.

In addition to the Buyers Club, the event promoters entered into a partnership with LATAM Airlines, offering special conditions of air tickets for domestic flights and, with the Oneworld alliance of 14 international airlines, to offer discounted tickets on flights to participants of the fair.

Vitória Stone Fair | Marmomacc Latin America is carried out by Milanez & Milaneze, a Veronafiere Group company. It counts on the promotion of Sindirochas and Cetemag and the institutional support of the Government of the State of Espírito Santo, Findes System, Sesi, Senai, Sebrae-ES, Centrorochas, CBIC, Sinduscon-ES, CAU/ES, Abirochas, Confindustria Marmomacchine and the MIA+BSI.

For more information, visit the event website.

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