The obsession of the stone industry professionals all over the world nowadays has been to try to figure out where and when the advance of the porcelain industry into applications considered the exclusive preserve of natural stone for decades, will come to a halt.
Anil Taneja
Director LITOSonline.com
One of the most important application for different materials like granite, quartzite, quartz and porcelain, is the segment of the kitchen countertop. Companies spend a big part of their marketing budgets in trying to capture a share of this very attractive application, and the business cornerstone of fabricators in many countries is in installing kitchen countertops.
During 2020 y 2021, the exporters and importers in the stone industry have been lógicamente focused on the ever rising shipping costs. But exchange rates movements too have taken place, and these also affect the profit margins. Below is a summary of some of the currencies movements during this period.
As part of the Marble fair held in Izmir (Turkey), held on dates 25 to 28 August 2021, during the World Stone Summit, the Director of LITOSonline.com and World Natural Stone Association (WONASA), Anil Taneja, gave a digital talk on the topic: "The new dynamics in the stone industry in the age of Covid-19".
One characteristic that generally defines the people in the natural stone industry is their conservative nature. Unlike so many other industries like fashion, technology, automobiles, or, even direct competitors like the ceramic industry, the natural stone people tend to be very set in their views and are usually unwilling to try out new things, to experiment.
