By Anil Taneja,
World, November 13, 2025
The low season begins in the northern hemisphere as the industry now tries to finish ongoing projects and reduce inventory. The closure or reduction of production in many quarries, processing units and among fabricators, means part of the huge oversupply situation has balanced out.
Brazil, November 13, 2025
The Brazilian quartzite exporters to USA are exempt from the 50% tariffs imposed on the country and sales to USA remain strong. Exports to other markets are also stable. The local market remains fairly active even though the overall economy is sluggish.
Central / East Europe, November 13, 2025
The overall business mood is positive. The stone industry in Poland is doing very well with no shortage of projects. There is a shortage of workers and huge oversupply of stone from everywhere which puts tremendous pressure on prices. Other countries in the region continue to be stable markets.
The Turkish industry is in serious trouble, the high inflation and interest rates are making their processed stone expensive.
China, November 13, 2025
A very difficult situation for the traditional stone companies and many companies have closed down. But Chinese companies are extremely flexible, and survivors are now focusing on high design component in their offerings and on furniture, in natural stone. The Chinese machinery manufacturers seem to have caught up with the Italians in technology.
Far East, November 13, 2025
The East Asian countries economies have noted the effect of the slowdown in China and the huge oversupply of stone of all varieties. Indonesia is doing fine, for now, less buoyant compared to recent past.
India, November 13, 2025
The local market remains solid and keeps growing. Those companies working with local materials and selling in the local market, are doing very well. But there are new small sized processing units appearing all the time, so even established companies complain the market has become too fragmented. The 50% tariffs imposed by USA on goods from India has been a big blow to the exporters, but, overall, exports to USA from India form a very small fraction of the total industry.
Latin America, November 13, 2025
Mexico remains a dynamic market. Other countries are much smaller markets, but are stable.
Middle East and North Africa, November 13 2025
Several major projects are going on in the Gulf countries, especially in the Emirates. Some major projects in Saudi Arabia have been postponed or cancelled though ongoing projects continue as before. Overall, the Gulf and the North African markets are extremely price sensitive, that is why stone exporters from rest of the world often do not find it worthwhile to make efforts there.
U.S.A., November 13, 2025
With the low season for business on the horizon the American importers are now preoccupied with reducing inventory and generate cash. The industry has adjusted to the new tariffs and managed to raise prices without losing sales. But there is a new nervousness in the air, fear that next year might see a slowdown in activity. All that media talk of an overpriced stock market does not calm the nerves either.
Western Europe, November 13, 2025
2025 has been a year of weak demand in most countries, and the severe shortage of skilled workers only makes everything worse. South Europe is in better situation. Spain's construction and renovation industry is booming but it is other alternative materials that are the main suppliers. The natural stone industry has at least stabilised, and companies have managed to get better prices.
