Exports

The Brazilian exports of diverse  comercial products of ornamental rocks reached 992.5 US$ million and 2.20 million tons in 2018, which meant a decline of 19.35% in turnover ando f 6.88% in volume with respect to 2017.

Main destinations

Brazil exported ornamental rocks to 120 countries in 2018, the three main destinations being USA, China and Italy. Just in these 7 countries (USA, China, Italy, Mexico, Canada, United Kingdom and Spain) the exports amounted to 10 US$ million each.

The lower average sales prices were for China (170 dollars/ton) and Taiwan (160 dollars/ton), because they were mostly blocks, and the highest were for Canada (1010 dollars/ton) and Vietnam (870 dollars/ton). Sales to Italy were diversified, included both blocks and granite and marble slabs, apart from slate and quartzite. Sales of slate are more concentrated on the US and UK markets.

Main exporting states

The exports of ornamental rocks came from 16 Brazilian states in 2018. Espiritu Santo, Minas Gerais, Ceara and Bahia accounted for turnover of more than 10 US$ million each of exports. Espiritu Santo alone accounts for 79.7% of total turnover and 71.5% in volume, followed by Minas Gerais,which representes, 12.2% and 16.7% of total Brazilian exports. The state of Ceara exported US$ 28.1 million and 39.800 tons, showing a trend towards growth.

Imports

Brazilian imports of natural stone reached US$ 30.1 million and 53500 tons in 2018, with negative variation of 16.2% and 15.3%, respectively, compared to 2017.

Among the countries of origin of natural stone imported by Brazil, one can highlight, by volume, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Indonesia, China, Portugal and Greece, in this order.

Summary of report elaborated by the geologist Cid Chiodi Filho, of Kistemann & Chiodi Assessoria e Projetos, for ABIROCHAS (Brazilian Association of Ornamental Rocks Industry), in January 2019.