1. The German stone market logistics remains a wholesaler dominated one, controlled by around 15 companies. These companies have superbly organised logistics and are able to distribute even the smallest of orders of slabs to as many as a dozen stonemasons with a single truck.

Published in August, 2018

Those who are currently doing well or relatively well.

The German awards for Natural Stone are organised by the Stone Association( DNV) in collaboration with Bund Deutscher Architekten BDA.

During the last edition of the Xiamen Stone fair, from 6 to 9 March 2018, simultaneously an exhibition” Stone Infinite-Product Design Show” was held with the objective of highlighting how natural stone could be used to create products of domestic use without excluding the design element, but also without forgetting that the functionality of an object should remain the main objective and, therefore, the appearance should be subject to the limitations of functionality.

Export turnover

Exports of Brazilian ornamental rocks and diverse products amounted to US$ 1.107 billion and 2.36 million tons in 2017. These figures mean a 2.74% decline in turnover and a 4.10% decline in physical volume as compared to the year 2016. Processed stone accounted for 80.45% of the total in 2017, similar to the figure of 80.15% in 2016.

Average price

1. Four years after the crisis following a sharp decline in energy prices which led to a significant decline in construction activity, the Russian market for natural stone now seems to have stabilised, though at a much lower level of demand.

Cid Chiodi Filho, Geologist

Consultant of ABIROCHAS - Brazilian Association of the Dimension Stone Industry

cdchiodi@gmail.com

Why quartzites

In the restaurant “ A Barra”, in Madrid (Spain), which boasts of one Michellin star rating, the central bar is the most striking element of the place ( as suggested by the name “Barra” which mean Bar). Its dimensions and special characteristics, its elaboration, was a real challenge for all those who were involved in the project.

The Xiamen Stone fair, held annually from 6 to 9 March in the Chinese city, has always been an important indicator of the situation of the natural stone industry, not just in China but also in other countries. Normally held soon after the Chinese New Year, with the winter almost over in the northern hemisphere, it is especially important for the sellers of blocks, both marble and granite. During the 4 days duration of the fair those in mining of stone get a fairly reliable indication of what demand for their materials will be in the months ahead.