StatWatch: Hot Half in ’12 for Quartz Imports

October 8, 2012

Shipments continue to boom, although volume outstrips value by nearly 2-1.

Spain easily outpaces all other countries in this year’s first half, doubling its value of U.S.-bound shipments. Israel remains strong, upping 2011 totals by two-thirds; other big gainers include Portugal and Vietnam. Canada and Italy continue to decline, although the drop is due mainly to manufacturers turning to U.S. facilities for product.

U.S. Quartz Slab Imports – Value
(U.S. dollars)

	1st Half 2012	1st Half 2011	Change
Spain	$37,211,806	$17,840,319	108.6%
Israel	$24,885,483	$14,886,211	67.2%
Canada	$6,869,089	$12,992,665	-47.1%
China	$6,739,524	$4,596,463	46.6%
Italy	$3,614,947	$7,402,433	-51.2%
Belgium	$1,976,962	$1,914,202	3.3%
Portugal	$1,719,005	$760,400	126.1%
India	$1,653,656	$1,814,945	-8.9%
Vietnam	$1,506,231	$607,555	147.9%
Luxembourg	$339,024	$0	N/A
Korea	$301,067	$608,180	-50.5%
Czech Republic	$154,126	$63,185	143.9%
All Others	$225,580	$220,959	2.1%

Total	$87,196,500	$63,707,517	36.9%

Source: U.S. International Trade Commission, Stone Update analysis

When market leaders Spain and Israel both manage to easily double half-year shipment totals, it’s bound to make 2012 look rosy. China – despite a lack of a nationally known brand name – moves to third place in quartz imports, while Canada and Italy continue to slide. Luxembourg’s heady progress is due almost entirely to shipments in one month: June.

U.S. Quartz Slab Imports – Volume
(square feet)

	1st Half 2012	1st Half 2011	Change
Spain	3,966,938	1,464,418	170.9%
Israel	2,453,017	987,373	148.4%
China	844,353	601,218	40.4%
Canada	610,518	963,089	-36.6%
Italy	259,367	575,610	-54.9%
Belgium	190,166	212,975	-10.7%
India	186,431	160,339	16.3%
Portugal	178,724	70,547	153.3%
Vietnam	166,776	69,503	140.0%
Luxembourg	42,324	0	N/A
Korea	41,269	57,759	-28.5%
Czech Republic	18,492	8,740	111.6%
All Others	17,858	24,337	-26.6%

Total	8,976,231	5,195,908	72.8%

Source: U.S. International Trade Commission, Stone Update analysis

StatWatch is a snapshot of U.S. dimensional-stone and hard-surfaces imports, offering a summary and exclusive Stone Update analysis of data from the U.S. International Trade Commission. Comparisons are made mainly to gauge market trends. Analysis is made on import figures of the latest month available.

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