U.S. Surface Imports April 2017: No Stopping Quartz?

For April 2017, U.S. imports of dimensional hard surfaces seem to be more of the same … as in more recovery for granite, and more of a stupendous growth curve for quartz slab.

Imports of “worked” (cut, one side polished) granite in April cut its losses to only -1.5% compared to the same time last year. Yes, it’s still behind. but the deficit is lower and shipments show some uptick from previous months, especially with Brazil.

Quartz slab, meanwhile, continues its skyrocket pace, with an April-to-April growth rate of 30.6%. China supplied half of the shipments to U.S. ports-of-entry — which isn’t surprising, given its doubling (and then some) of exports to the United States for this April.

Other stone sectors stay on pace, save for a lessening of growth in worked marble. Travertine still faces challenges as Turkey lags behind its 2016 pace; the catch-all Other Stone category, meanwhile, continues to grow with a large upturn in shipments from Brazil.

Stone Update continues with its experiment with doughnut charts featuring national flags. We hope that you continue to enjoy the new look; for the editor, who’s on a low-carb diet, these are the only doughnuts he gets all month.

 

WORKED GRANITE

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April 2017: 127,052 metric tons

 

Change from previous year: -1.5%

 

Market leader: Brazil, 66,658 metric tons

 

Change from previous year: -4.9%

 

 

WORKED MARBLE

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April 2017: 33,689 metric tons

 

Change from previous year: +2.4%

 

Market leader: Italy, 8,800 metric tons

 

Change from previous year: -17.7%

 

 

QUARTZ SURFACES

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April 2017: 7,886,516 ft²

 

Change from previous year: +30.6%

 

Market leader: China, 3,927,758 ft²

 

Change from previous year: +112.0%

 

 

 

 

TRAVERTINE

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April 2017: 24,124 metric tons

 

Change from previous year: -26.5%

 

Market leader: Turkey, 18,719 metric tons

 

Change from previous year: -22.9%

 

 

 

OTHER CALCAREOUS

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  April 2017: 11,413 metric tons

 

Change from previous year: -12.5%

 

Market leader: China, 2,570 metric tons

 

Change from previous year: +8.2%

 

 

OTHER STONE

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April 2017: 39,199 metric tons

 

Change from previous year: +16.2%

 

Market leader: Brazil, 20,578 metric tons

 

Change from previous year: +42.3%