StatWatch July 2019: No Big Void in Quartz
By Emerson Schwartzkopf
Quartz slabs remained strong in July’s U.S. hard-surface import data, despite China all-but-dropping-out of the market.
Granite, meanwhile, remained strong, as Brazil moves far ahead of 2018’s pace in sending slabs to the United States.
More than 6.5 million ft² of quartz slabs from China rushed through U.S. ports-of-entry in May and June to sail through a regulatory loophole for implementing 300%-plus unfair-trade tariffs. July’s shipments from the country, meanwhile, might be enough to cover a couple of decent subdivisions in Phoenix.
Others continue to step in to fill the loss of Chinese quartz, including a big recovery in shipments from Vietnam and Italy.
All data is from the U.S. International Trade Commission, along with Stone Update analysis.(Comparisions with July 2018 data is shown in parentheses.)
QUARTZ SURFACES
Total: 14,037,611 ft² (-18.4%)
Sector Leader: India, 4,726,816 ft² (+492.7%)
Backfill: The non-tariff loophole for Chinese quartz closed in early July, and — POOF — shipments went from 3.5 million ft² in June to less than 20,000 ft² in July. The market kept a strong pace, however, led by big year-to year gains from India, Turkey and a resurgent Vietnam.Thre’s even a big (+447.1%) push from Italy.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WORKED GRANITE
Total: 131,684 metric tons (+7.2%)
Sector Leader: Brazil, 65,999 metric tons (+46.3%)
Backfill: Worked (sawn, one-side polished) granite keeps ahead of 2018 import totals, although it’s the turn of Brazil to prop up July as the other two members of granite’s Big Three (China, India) post double-digit declines.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WORKED MARBLE
Total: 50,325 metric tons (+17.4%)
Sector Leader: Turkey, 19,627 metric tons (+49.0%)
Backfill: Turkey dominates marble by shipment volume as four of the top five exporters to the United States show year-to-year increases. After several months of decline, Italy moves ahead of 2018.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TRAVERTINE
Total: 17,181 metric tons (-31.4%)
Sector Leader: Turkey, 11,527 metric tons (-37.0%)
Backfill: Still no pullout from the tailspin in U.S. shipments.
| 19-Jul | 18-Jul | Change | |
| TOTAL | 17,181 | 25,039 | -31.4% |
| Top Countries | |||
| Turkey | 11,527 | 18,284 | -37.0% |
| Mexico | 3,971 | 4,033 | -1.5% |
| Italy | 646 | 1,009 | -36.0% |
| Peru | 298 | 828 | -64.0% |
| China | 266 | 673 | -60.5% |
| Spain | 247 | 124 | 99.2% |
| Source: U.S. International Trade Commission, Stone Update analysis | |||
OTHER CALCAREOUS
Total: 11,776 metric tons (-23.8%)
Sector Leader: China, 2,871 metric tons (-21.2%)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
OTHER STONE
Total: 38,209 metric tons (-14.0%)
Sector Leader: India, 13,070 metric tons (-17.5%)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Get the news of the industry with Slab & Sheet, the e-newsletter from Stone Update. Sign up for free delivery here.
For the latest industry info, check Stone Update on Twitter and Facebook.
Experience the totally new Stone Update Magazine online.
