Since more than 20 years, the owner and general manager of TexaStone Quarries has played an active role in countless industry initiatives

Brenda Edwards, owner and general manager of TexaStone Quarries in Garden City, TX, is the recipient of the first-ever Women in Stone Pioneer Award. Edwards received the award at the MIA+BSI Awards Luncheon at TISE fair in Las Vegas in January.

In a career spanning more than 20 years, Edwards has been an active participant in countless industry initiatives and associations. She has held key leadership roles with Marble Insitute of America (MIA), Busilding Stone Institute (BSI), and the Natural Stone Council, and is currently serving on the transitional MIA+BSI Board of Directors. Her company was the first to certify under the ANSI/NSC 373 Sustainability Standard, and her leadership was paramount to the creation of the Women in Stone initiative.

In a letter nominating Edwards for this award, Jennifer Sayles, Marketing Manager at TexaStone Quarries wrote: „Brenda teaches anyone that wants to learn, helps anyone in need, battles any obstacle that comes her way, and loves this industry fiercely. Her passion is contagious; her knowledge immeasurable. Brenda is truly a pioneer for this industry.”

Brie Pfannenbecker, VP of Operations at Connecticut Stone, agrees: „Brenda’s impact spans both genders and ensures a brighter, more competent, more dynamic future for the industry as a whole.”

Edwards reflects on her involvement with Women in Stone and how it has impacted her career: „In all my years in the stone industry, I have never had more fun and appreciated the business more than being involved with Women in Stone. I am honored to serve with these intelligent, energetic, and passionate ladies. Together they have brought recognition to the women working in the stone industry. A special thanks to MIA+BSI for making it all possible and giving me the opportunity to serve with each one of them!”

 

Source: Stone-idea

THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET OF NATURAL STONE

The annual statistics publication by Internazionale Marmi e Macchine (IMM) presented. China, the leading figure and Italy in second place with a rapidly changing scenario. Signs of recovery in the construction sector. Italian districts leading exports, characterised by the quality and high added value of products.

In 2014, natural stone (marble, granite, stone, travertine) recorded world trade of 86 million tons, +7.4% compared to 2013, for a value of 22.8 billion (+1.8%) with a stabilisation of market shares among the top ten countries but with interesting variations in the percentages. China continues to hold the largest share of the market with 35.8% (among the most important partners, Japan and the countries of the area), followed by Italy with 13.5%, a stable market in terms of finished products with high added value. Turkey holds 12.1% (down consistently compared to the 12.9% in 2013) followed by India (10.8%) and Brazil with 7.0%. The performance of Iran is interesting. In one year only, Iran increased its share from 1.1% to 1.8% and stands out in terms of production, exports and domestic consumption as well as its imports of Italian technology.

The target market for natural stone is the construction industry, which in 2014 stood at 6,800 billion euro, of which 51% is attributed to Asia picking up after seven years of general crisis. The Stone Sector edition 2015, the publication that the Internazionale Marmi e Macchine produces each year with its research department, presents the results and the prospects for the international trade of stone. It includes the numbers and percentages along with assessments of trends and prospects. “A useful tool for everyone, operators, specialists and institutions – were the opening remarks from Fabio Felici, Chairman of IMM Carrara – that is only part of our company mission, which is to study the industry, understand and report the dynamics and promote the use of stone. What we offer, in fact, are not mere statistical tables but also reflections on current or emerging trends in Italy that affect more than 10,000 companies and over 50,000 employees that form a group of true excellence but also have to face complex problems that can only be addressed if discussed and shared”. In the illustration of the trends of a sector closely linked, both nationally and internationally, to the construction sector, the weight of individual countries with the weight of their economies and domestic markets clearly emerges. “China, stressed Manuela Gussoni, head of the IMM research office, when giving details of the publication – showed a total export value of 4.6 billion in 2014 (+5.6% compared to 2013). Granite makes up 70% of the total (3.2 billion euro, +6.4%), exported in particular to South Korea and Japan but exports of finished marble products are also growing (1.3 billion euro, +4.5%) exported in particular to the US. China is also the leading country for imports with 14.7 million tons (+%) purchased mainly from Turkey that is now affected by the slowdown in Chinese demand. The second largest market for domestic demand is the United States that imported products for nearly 2 billion euro (5%) while – said Gussoni – there are signs of a recovery of the European market with the EU countries that imported products for a total value of 2.3 billion euro, with a small 0.3% increase, yet far from the 2.6 billion in 2012”. Italy, firmly in second place worldwide, exported 4,194,035 tons of marble, granite, travertine and other materials, both raw and processed, in 2014 to a value of 1,940,861,130 euro with a surplus of more than 1.5 billion euro. The driving item was finished marble products that, despite a 3.5% decrease in quantities exported, recorded an increase in value of 3.8% with exports of 891,933 tons of finished marble for almost 936 million euro. That means an average unit value of 1049 euro per ton (+7.5%) while exports of marble in blocks and slabs stood at 1.3 million tons for a value of 331 million euro. The quarrying and processing companies, particularly the export-oriented ones, have played an important role in the Italian trend and the organisation of the districts in which they operate and the quality of the employees is an important hallmark on the international markets. 10,698 companies (1,084 in the quarrying sector) that in 2011 had a total of 54,201 employees. The highest concentration of employees was in the Veneto district (Verona, Padua, Vicenza) with 5.634 employees followed by the Apuo-Versilian district (Massa Carrara, Lucca Spezia) with 4.511 and the Puglia stone district (Bari, Battipaglia-Andria-Trani, Foggia, Lecce) with 3.822 employees. The Lombard district (Bergamo and Brescia) was fourth with 3.340 employees.  In the general assessments, the export flows and values play a significant role. Again in 2014, the Apuo-Versilian stone district came out on top (Massa Carrara, Lucca, Spezia) exporting finished products for a value of 481 million euro, with a growth of +0.9% compared to 2013. The Veneto district (Verona, Padua, and Vicenza) followed with 475.4 million euro.Italian production, according to the Stone Sector by IMM, shows a recovery in exports to UE countries (value of 485 million and +4, 7%) thanks to Germany and the UK and the value of exports to the USA continues to grow (371 million, +2, 3%) despite a reduction in quantity in favour of quality. The value of exports to the Middle East is decreasing except for Kuwait, the Arab Emirates, Lebanon and Israel. China too lowered its imports in 2014.Today, the IMM study concludes, analysing the characteristics and opportunities of the markets, the key words for the definition of any successful business strategy are sustainability and innovation combined with the recovery and use of waste, the short chain with a low environmental impact and the product design, environment and employment as shared values for the social legitimacy of the entire chain.For small and medium-sized companies in the marble sector, exciting opportunities are opening up tied to the creation of a local chain of production of products with high added value to be distributed through a global network by introducing innovation and exploiting the combination of new digital technologies with traditional manufacturing implemented by constant and proper communication of the identity value of marble with marketing strategies to promote products with a high added value.Giampaolo Vitali, CNR Researcher and secretary to the Group of Company Economists, presented the data collected by the economic Observatory on the Italian stone districts and the activity of the major companies operating in the territories concerned. “In 2013, the capital companies altogether, recorded a national turnover of almost 4 billion Euro said Vitali – and the Apuo-Versilian and Verona districts show their leadership with approximately 900 million turnover each. The same statements apply to employment and number of companies: the weight of Verona and the Apuo-Versilian district is double the districts of Lombardy, and 5-6 times compared to the other districts of the North (Piedmont, Lombardy and Trentino) and Central-South Italy (Lazio, Puglia, Sicily, Sardinia). The impact of the general crisis in the sector was heavy on a national level, with a fall in turnover of 12% in 2009 and a recovery in 2010 and 2011, with a subsequent settling in 2012 and 2013. The final figure for 2013 is still lower than the initial one of 2008, especially in the quarrying sector compared to the processing sector. Within this national dynamics, territorial performance is very different, with the Tuscan district that shows a level of turnover in 2013 10% higher than in 2008, while the districts of the Lazio, Puglia, Trentino and Sicily are still lower 20%. Because of stagnation in the national demand, exports have become the main driver of the recovery in the stone industry as indeed in much of the Italian manufacturing industry. To this regard, the Observatory (which stems from a partnership between the CNR and IMM) has analysed the performance of exports of individual Italian companies and found that of the 1,131 companies in the production chain that export directly, a good 220 operate in the Tuscan district, and of these the 20 leading companies account for almost three quarters of total exports.Concluding the talks was Daniele Mocchi from the Institute of Study and Research (ISR) of the Chamber of Commerce of Massa-Carrara showing the results of the annual survey on the financial statements of a sample of 281 capital companies in the quarrying, processing and mechanical sectors with registered offices in the province of Massa Carrara. “The quarrying sector (which since 2007 has shown positive performance) is in excellent health with record values compared to 2013 and the data for the processing sector are positive too with sales up 5% compared to 2012 and by more than 9% on 2011. This has made it possible – said Mocchi – to close the accounts of companies in this segment with profits again in 2013, generating a production value of nearly 436 million euro with a profit of 9.4 million. The 51 quarrying companies monitored, however, generated a production value of 107 million euro, with double the margin compared to the previous year (currently 16.5 million euro). “For the mechanical sector, despite the excellent turnover, which grew by +14% and +18% on 2011, 2013 closed with a general loss of 187,000 euro.

Annual statistics publication by Internazionale Marmi e Macchine (IMM)

http://www.immcarrara.com/

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Pavilion Opening ceremony was held in the first of exhibition afternoon with presence of Dr.Sargheini, Mehdi Sanaei and Ahmad Sharifi

Pavilion Opening ceremony was held with presence of deputy Minister of mining industry trade, Mehdi salami Iran ambassador in Russia and Ahmad Sharifi the secretary of Iran stone association.

Mehdi sanaei Iran ambassador in Russia and his companions while visiting Iran pavilion pointed that, Moscow stone exhibition has a good atmosphere for producers to check the Russia stone market. He also hoped that Iranian manufacturers will be able to find a decent place in this zone and added that Iranian contributors surprised me today. In addition, the products are excellent and we will serve stone association and producers comprehensively.

The Dr.sargheini referring to the supply of Iranian stone diversity in the exhibition, expressed: This is the first time that Iranian companies take part exhibition as an independent pavilion with extent and an area about 450m2 and high variety in stones.

Mineral deputy minister of industry mentioned the obstacles and difficulties that in the meetings were expressed and he added Some of these problems such as monetary exchanges, were solved. But there are some items that increase the price of all products in the country which they should also be checked in country and some solutions must be implemented.

He mentioned: Since producers prefer short-term benefits more than long-term ones, they will not be good exporters. A good exporter should consider long-term benefits that are achieved through customer satisfaction.

He noticed that tax exemption is an encouraging item for exporters that is exerted only for processing products not for raw materials.

At the end of meeting he mentioned to subsidies exhibition, and said: following Iran stone association’s attempts and their mutual negotiations by Iran policy-making council of stone, eventually they led to the approval of allocating subsidies to four important international exhibitions. These for exhibitions are informed to the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran as target markets to take subsidies and governmental supports.

The distinct presence of first Iran pavilion in Moscow stone exhibition

Inauguration of first Iran stone pavilion, is a distinct presence and memorable memory that was held by Iranian authorities, Dr. Sargheini, the deputy minister and the accompanying delegation and also Mr. Sharifi, the secretary general of Iran stone association after official inauguration of 17th Moscow stone industry exhibition. The opening ceremony and visiting Iran pavilion was performed in an intimate setting. (We will interview by all members in next days.)

This is the first practical Iran pavilion in stone industry which has outstanding and effective presence. So that all participants and visitors, exhibition authorities and also Iran senior authorities had emphasized.

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After visiting the pavilion and Mr.Sargheini conversation with exhibitors, The ceremony was continued with live music performances by a group of Iranian music includes Persian and Russian musicians.

Mr.Mehdi Sanaei, Islamic Republic of Iran ambassador with his entourage joined Iranians at 13:30 at the exhibition and then had interlocution and conversation with Iranian exhibitors. 

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In this exhibition, the following companies have participated in the Islamic Republic of Iran Pavilion:

      1. SANGESTAN CO.

      2. SHAHAB SANG INDUSTRIAL MINING CO.

      3. GOLDEN WALL STONE

      4. IRAN STONE CONSORTIUM

      5. ARMAN STONE MILAD CO.

      6. INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMPANY, OSTOVAN SEPAND, OSCO

      7. I.S.E. (INTERNATIONAL STONE EXPERT)

      8. MAHSAB STONE CO.

      9. YAZDSTONECLUSTER

And also the following companies display their own products outside the Pavilion:

     1. MGT (MARJAN GOLDEN TRADING)

     2. MEGA STONE

     3. AHJAR SEPAHAN & QASR STONE QUARRY

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Youstone efforts have had good results, Iran pavilion shined in Moscow exhibition

On the 21st of July 2016, the 17th Moscow stone industry international exhibition inaugurated with participation of 240 companies from 16 countries. Miss Maria Tretyakova, the exhibition director, and exhibition officials reported administrative process in this ceremony and emphasized the development of exhibition in next years.

It is obviously, the presence of Iran stone industry has appeared well. The design and implementation of Iran pavilion is desirable and also the best and most beautiful part of the exhibition. The presentation of beautiful stones and high quality voluminous products flaunt the distance of Iran stone to the world, as well.

We hope the first step as a first official Iran stone industry pavilion at the international level, has a great results in the future.

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Amongst beginning of Russia stone industry exhibition, an stone expert considered

Amongst beginning of Russia stone industry exhibition, an stone expert considered:

Stone market success depends on government support and preferential tariff

The price of transportation affects prime cost of stone; because of that one of neighbor countries should be determined as a target market.

Mohammad Rasa said: Stone is one of the mineral fields in Iran with the most capacity for global scale development and competition. Nevertheless, still there is not much success and Iran has given the important markets over to small and unknown competitors. However, the entrance opportunity has been prepared in Russia as the first chain of globalization of Iran stone reputation.

Youstone executive director (Service and Consulting Iran Stone Company), Mohammad Rasa, in an interview with “Samt” declared: Although, the Russia market has been located close to Iran, it was not considered by internal Iranian companies. It’s because of success in internal market and followed by at least in two last years any Iranian companies did not participate in Moscow stone exhibition.

Russia, stone target market

Rasa said: One reason for the importance of Russia market is its proximity to Iran’s borders. Another reason is huge Russia stone market. Russia with abundant population and appropriate economic situation is a country which can have significant imports.

According to demographic and economic specification of Russia, this country can be a suitable market for Iran luxury stones and it can prepare the market for ordinary and cheaper Iranian stones, as well.

The challenge of entry to the Russia Market

Rasa noticed about different difficulties of entry to Russia market. He said: As food industry has problems to enter Russia profitable market, stone industry also cannot enter to this market easily. One of these obstacles has been strong penetration to Russia. Rasa mentioned: Iran Stone Association and stone industry activists have done an unprecedented action. Meanwhile they declared their presentation in Moscow stone industry exhibition, they concluded to be present with an equal shape, unit strategy and same pavilions.

Unreached expectations from government

Rasa said: 9 to 10 Iranian companies’ participation in Moscow stone industry is not enough. More than this number was expected but unfortunately it was not possible because of high price in international exhibitions.

Youstone executive director said: The government could have an effective role in supporting of Iranian companies in Moscow stone exhibition, but it did not happen.

It is expected at least 50 percent of stone industry costs be provided by the government.

Stone requires Full government support

Youstone executive director continued: Iran stone quarries are located in outlying and excluded places. On the other hand, this field creates high value added and high revenue for the country. He said: If the government supports stone industry, it will be profitable and foreign exchange inflow market. To achieve these goals, the government should facilitate exports, and like as Turkey, request Russia to adopt the preferential tariff for stone exporting.

Number of participated countries in Moscow stone exhibition during last years

Some of participated countries 2014 2015 2016
Russia 136 122 123
China 67 38 36
Turkey 17 19
Italy 30 25 28
India 4 7 5
Iran 0 0 14

Quartz and white marble remain growing trends of kitchen design

When it comes to the kitchen — the most popular space in any residence — quartz and white marble remain growing trends, while mitered corners are also often requested for countertops

When it comes to aesthetics, homeowners are usually looking to incorporate what’s trending and what’s “hot” on the market to make each space unique.

When speaking with fabricators along the East Coast, it’s apparent that granite is not the only popular choice for countertops anymore. “Everyone wants white marble,” said Tim Farr, owner of StoneWorks in Augusta, Inc. in Augusta, GA. “It’s just really popular. We see some quartz, but for the most part, it’s everything light and white. People are moving away from the staple colors to the whites.”

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Marco Duran, co-owner of Atlas Marble & Granite in Springfield, NJ, also is seeing a trend towards marble countertops. “The most popular [materials] right now are marble or quartzite,” he said. “On a scale from one to three, with one being the most popular, I’d say marble is at one, with second, being quartzite. I think marble is the most popular only because people are not really aware of quartzite.

As an interior designer, Alena Capra, CKD, CBD of Alena Capra Designs in Fort Lauderdale, FL, said she has been working with a tremendous amount of white quartz lately. “I’ve done work in New York City as well as Florida, and more people are very much looking to do neutral quartz counters,” she said.

Anna Marie Fanelli, designer and vice president of Floor & Decor in Tenafly, NJ, echoed Capra’s comments and said her clientele is also requesting a lot of quartz to use for their homes. “I’ve introduced them to Dekton [by Cosentino], an ultra-compact material composed of glass and porcelain and the highest quality quartz material that can go on the inside and outside of buildings,” she said. “It comes in monochromatic colors — blacks and different types of whites. The technology is crazy; it’s amazing. I’ve used it for fireplaces, kitchens and bathrooms.

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Selecting the right edge

When it comes to edges, the mitered edge has been growing in popularity, but for some areas of the country, it has already been around for a handful of years. “We took an interest in that maybe four to five years ago,” said Duran. “I just always like that look of miters and clean lines. From a personal standpoint, I want to impose that in our showroom. Pretty much, it’s more of a foresight in people’s minds. I was ahead of the trend when it came to miters in natural stone. We partook in mitering way before people took an interest in it. Now that there’s an interest in it, it’s like second nature to us. If you look at people who are trending, their choices are directed towards quartzite or stones, and those are complemented by mitered edges.”

Farr agrees that his shop is seeing more of the mitered edge. “It’s coming, I will tell you”, said Farr “If folks are not prepared, they better start to [get prepared]. [But], I think it’s just a trend. That’s part of the reason for us buying a new CNC saw — it’s more efficient. Our old saw didn’t miter, and this one does. It makes it simple.”

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Polished verses honed

While many people tend to veer towards a polished finish, which is highly reflective, displaying the vibrancy and character of the stone’s natural colors, it really depends on the type of material being used and its application. “If I’m working with marble, it’s most likely honed,” said Farr. “There are some people that want the polished look. I’d say it’s probably a 70 to 30 ratio. About 70% want a honed finish and 30% want a polished finish.”

Duran said most of his customers are looking for the same things. “Honing is advantageous to having marble — people will drift towards honed tops,” he said. “If it’s marble, I’m almost positive they’re going for a honed finish; there’s probably a 3-to-1 ratio they’re selecting honed over polished. The polished finish — people are going just for the look of it.”

According to Fanelli, she believes the two finishes are equally popular. “It was always honed, but now it’s 50/50,” she said. “I’ve even done polished materials in the kitchen in porcelain. Before it was honed, honed, and honed. Now, it’s a combination of both.”

From Capra’s standpoint, she’s seeing the opposite, with the polished trend standing strong. “In this case, I am finding the tradition that kind of stays, for the most part, is polished countertops,” she said. “Not a lot of people are doing honed countertops. They keep trying the honed trend, but I don’t think it is happening. A shiny piece of stone in your kitchen contrasts so nicely. Most cabinets are wood, so I think it creates a beautiful, stunning contrast to have that polished top. I really don’t get asked for honed as much as I do for polished.

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The future of stone

A couple of years ago, people were really looking for ways to save on stone products, while also being able to accomplish an upscale design. Today, the trend has totally shifted. Now, instead of worrying about cost, people are starting to indulge in the luxury items they really want, looking at it as an investment.

“The future is in semi-precious stones and the ultra-high-end market,” said Duran. “The luxury goods market is basically coming out of its shell. We’ve been predicting that for about a year now that there is a call now for a luxury product that is beyond white marble, exotic granite and engineered stone. We feel that luxury is coming back. People, again, are sort of having what they desire, instead of what is common. Granite is attainable and common — and people are looking for opulence and luxury — and that’s what is with a semi-precious collection. It’s got qualities that make it look so unique — as unique as the individual wants to be. People say, ‘This is what makes me different — having this surface. Not everyone can afford it.’ And that market is starting to bloom. It’s becoming fashionable.”

“What I’m seeing with kitchen backsplashes are a lot of stone with mirror, stone with gold, stone with platinum — a lot of mixing with exotic materials,” said Fanelli. It’s different these days; they have upscale feelings. People are saying to me, ‘The Kardashians did it,’ so you have this mindset of ‘the celebrities did it, now I can do it.’ It’s an interesting way of looking at it. If they have to spend $4,000 to $5,000, they will now. They’ll say it’s an investment; before, it was ridiculous, now it’s artwork, a specialty.”

Heather Fiore, associate editor of TILE Magazine

www.stoneworld.com

BUSINESS PROGRAM of STONE INDUSTRY -2016- Moscow

BUSINESS PROGRAM of STONE INDUSTRY -2016- Moscow

21– 24 June

(during the Exhibition working hours)

Stand A26

MASTER CLASS ON MANUFACTURING OF ARTWORKS OUT OF NATURAL STONE.

Organizer: Transbaikal Minerals Co.

21 June

Hall А, Presentation zone

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Seminar: Natural stone market of Russia: development over the last 25 years, current state and prospects.

Organizer:

Stone & business publishing house

 

Speaker: S.V. Pavlova, Chief-editor of Stone & business magazine

«SCIENCE IN THE SERVICE OF PRODUCTION»

Research & Application Conference

Organizer: Mining institute (within Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys National Research Technological University)

2.00 p.m.– 2.30p.m. Speaker:D. V. Pastikhin, Professor

Training of specialists in the field of dimensional stone quarrying in the Mining University

2.30 p.m.– 3.00 p.m. Speaker:E.B. Chepezkaya, Dr.Sc. (Engineering)

Investigation of micro-cracks of natural stone by nondestructive testing methods

3.00 p.m.– 3.30 p.m. Speaker: Yu.A. Pavlov, Dr.Sc. (Engineering)

Application of robotic engineering in the stone processing

3.30 p.m.– 4.00 p.m. Speaker: Zh. A. Kazaryan, Cand. Sc. (Engineering)

Application of European technologies in the stone industry of Russia: problems and prospects

4.00 p.m.– 4.30 p.m. Speaker: V.A. Tulnin, Dr.Sc. (Chemistry)

Protective magnesium-base coulored natural stone coatings of construction products

4.30 p.m. – 5.00 p.m. Speaker: V.A. Tulnin, Dr.Sc. (Chemistry)

A.A. Zakharova, Postgraduate

Application of coloured crystallites in production of decorative items

June 22

Hall А,Presentation area

PRESENTATION FORUM

 

11:00 a.m. – 11:40 a.m. Tunisian marble: discover the potential

Dreamland, Tunisia

AbdelmalekGhannem,General manager

11:40 a.m.– 12:20 p.m. Mine management company Vozrozhdenije Ltd – presentation of activity

Mine management company Vozrozhdenije Ltd, Russia

Michael Seleznev, Deputy General Director for Marketing & Promotion

12:20 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Potentials of Iran Stone Industry

Stone association of Iran

Jafar Baradaran, Vice president of Export Commission

1:00 p.m. – 1.40 p.m. Innovations in stone processing: machinery, tools and chemicals

Company Almir, OOO

Maxim Kazakov, Technical consultant

1:40 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Lunch break
2:00 p.m. – 2:40 p.m. Stone processing in Ural Region

Kamnerez LLC, Russia

Dmitry Selnitsin, Director

2:40 p.m. – 3:20 p.m. Introduction of Iran and Iranian Natural Stones

MGT (Marjan Golden Trading), Iran

Ebrahim Mirzaei, General Manager

3:20 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Natural stone of Egypt

Presentation of companies – participants of the National Pavilion of Egypt

4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Cooperation of Russia and Iran in natural stone industry.Prospects of Iranian companies at the Russian market. Foundation of tradingplatform for Iranian goods out of natural stone in Russia. Presentation ofcompanies and their products.

Speakers: Zolali Parviz, ALVAND LTD, General director

Mohamad Hashemi, MGS Сo,General director

Ali Tavakoliyan,Arvin – Iranian granite Company, Director

June 23

Hall А, Presentation area

ARCHITECTS’ AND DESIGNERS’ MASTER CLASSES

on application of natural stone in interior and exterior design

10.00 am – 11.00 am Seminar: Stone in interior – installation technology. Difficulties and typical mistakes

Organizer:

ArchDialogue Communication and PR agency

11.00 am – 12.00 Seminar: Interesting ideas for interiors decoration. Creative approach and art-objects

Organizer:

ArchDialogue Communication and PR agency

12.00 – 1.00 pm Seminar: Designer and supplier. Particularities of cooperation and criteria of choice

Organizer:

ArchDialogue Communication andPRagency

1.00 pm – 2.00 pm Seminar Interiors in minimalism style. Difficulties of design and typical mistakes

Organizer:

ArchDialogue Communication and PR agency

2.00 pm – 3.00 pm Seminar: Application of natural and artificial stone in modern interiors

Organizers:

KASHUBA DESIGN International interior and architectural bureau

«House & Interior» magazine

Speakers:

V. Kashuba, member of the Moscow Union of Architects, winner of A.L. Chizhevsky academic prize in the field of interior design art and architecture

E. Vorobiev, professor, founder of «House & Interior» magazine

N. Sergeev, Head of department of facades out of natural stone of StoneWealth Management company

3.00 pm – 4.00 pm Seminar: Application of natural stone in exteriors

Organizer:

ARTPLANNER group of companies

Speaker:

А. Yagubyanz, founder of ARTPLANNER group of companies, member of the Union of Architects of Russia, permanent participant of TV-programs on home design and renovation.

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Seminar: Problems of import of natural stone to Russia

Organizers:

KASHUBA DESIGN International interior and architectural bureau

StoneWealth Management company

«PRO Interior. Design & Decor» magazine

Speakers:

V.Kashuba, member of the Moscow Union of Architects, winner of A.L. Chizhevsky academic prize in the field of interior design art and architecture

D. Maksimov, General Director of Stone Wealth Management company

I. Koloskova, Chief Editor of «РRO Interior» magazine

 

Exhibitors list of Moscow Stone industry 2016

Exhibitors 2016 :

 

Abkhazia :

 

NEDRARESOURS, LLC part-time participation

 

Armenia:

 

ANDSTONE,LLC F06

KARASTGH, LLC C16

ORIENT STONE, LLC D04-E03

Belarus

GONCHARIK, PE H10

SANKY F03

 

Czechia:

 

GESTRA CZ s.r.o. H07

 

China:

 

AGA MACHINERY LTD B30

BEIJING STARS STONE CO., LTD C24-D25

BEST CHEER (XIAMEN) STONE WORKS CO., LTD E14

CCPIT BUILDING MATERIALS SUB-COUNCIL part-time participation

CHANGSHA TOOLSTAR MACHINERY MANUFACTURING CO., LTD C31

EZHOU BENEFIT DIAMOND TOOLS CO., LTD B15

FUDING BASALT STONE CO., LTD D29

FUJIAN HUANGCHANG GRINDING STONE ELECTRICAL CO., LTD B28-C27

FUJIAN HERUN STONE CO., LTD B14-C13

FUJIAN JINJIANG XIANDA MACHINERY CO., LTD D23

FUJIAN QUANZHOU HUAZUAN DIAMOND TOOLS CO., LTD C35

FUJIAN TIANLI GRINDING TOOLS MANUFACTURE CO., LTD F17.1

FUZHOU FICINA INDUSTRY & TRADING CO., LTD C30-D31

HAVSUN STONE A16-B11

HUADA SUPERABRASIVE TOOL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD C33

HUBEI EXIN DIAMOND TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD B22-C21

JIANGXI XINGUANG DIAMOND TOOLS CO., LTD C19

JIANGXI ZHONGLI SUPERHARD MATERIAL TOOLS CO., LTD C26-D27

MING DIAMOND TOOLS CO., LIMITED B24-C23

QINGDAO HAISEN STONE CO., LTD B17

QUANZHOU HANSTONE NEW MATERIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD B34

QUANZHOU SANG DIAMOND TOOLS CO., LTD E16

QUANZHOU SHUANGYANG DIAMOND TOOL CO., LTD B36

QUANZHOU XTAR DIAMOND TOOLS CO., LTD./FULLUX ABRASIVES C28

QUANZHOU YNS IMP. & EXP. CO., LTD F17

QUANZHOU ZHONGZHI DIAMOND TOOL CO., LTD C18-D19

SANSO SUPERHARD TOOLS CO., LTD C22

SHANDONG GOLD RHINO HUAXING MACHINERY CO., LTD A18

SHANXI SHIXINYUAN TRADING CO., LTD C20-D21

XIAMEN EASTERN PEGASUS CO., LTD B18

XIAMEN GREAT BASE CO., LTD C29

XIAMEN GYYSTONE IMP. & EXP. CO., LTD B13

XIAMEN TENGMAI IMPORT & EXPORT CO., LTD B32

XIAMEN YANGCHENG IMP. & EXP. CO., LTD B16-C15

YANTAI DIANY SAW MFG. CO. LTD F15

ZHAOYUAN HONGWEI STONE B20

 

Germany:

 

AMT JÄGGLE GMBH B02

HUMMEL GMBH/ANTE ANLAGEN TECHNIK B02

 

Egypt:

 

ABDEEN STONE FOR MARBLE & GRANITE G26

AL ABBAS FOR MARBLE & GRANITE H24

AL GAZEERA FOR MARBLE & GRANITE G22

ALEX TILES & ALEX MARMO FOR MARBLE & QUARRIES G24-H27

ALSAFA MARBLE FOR MARBLE & GRANITE F22-G21

CRYSTAL FOR MARBLE &GRANITE H28

ECKO STONE MARBLE H30

ECO EGYPT GROUP FOR MARBLE AND GRANITE G18-H19

EGYPT MOSAIC G17-H15

EGYPT STONES FOR MARBLE & GRANITE G16-H17

KR-ONYX H29

MISR EL NOUR H25

NILE SONS EGYPT FOR MARBLE & GRANITE G20-H21

NOOR EAST CO FOR MARBLE AND GRANITE F20-G19

ROYAL CREAM MARBLE H26

SARHAN FOR MARBLE AND GRANITE F18-G17

TRUST MARMAR F24-G23

 

India:

 

FEDERATION OF INDIAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (FICCI) G05

JBB ENTERPRISES INDIA E08

MULTIWYN INTERNATIONAL PVT. LTD F05

NEERAJ GRANITES F09

RESOURCES INTERNATIONAL A05

 

Iran:

 

AHJAR SEPAHAN & QASR STONE QUARRY E21

ARMAN STONE MILAD CO G27

GOLDEN WALL STONE D24

I.S.E. (INTERNATIONAL STONE EXPERT) E25

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMPANY, OSTOVAN SEPAND, OSCO E23

IRAN STONE CONSORTIUM G25

MAHSAB STONE CO F19

MEGA STONE C39

MGT (MARJAN GOLDEN TRADING) B26-C25

SANGESTAN CO. G28-H31

SHAHAB SANG INDUSTRIAL MINING CO D26-E27

STONE ASSOCIATION OF IRAN F21

YAZDSTONECLUSTER F23

YOUSTONE F21

 

Italy:

 

BARSANTI MACCHINE by ISM E06

BM SRL F08-G07

BRETON SPA E12-F13

BRUNEXPORT SRL E17

BV SRL F08-G07

CEL COMPONENTS SRL D16

CMS SPA G12-H13

CONFINDUSTRIA MARMOMACCHINE – Assomarmomacchine D17

DAL PRETE ENGINEERING SRL E06

DAZZINI SRL F08-G07

DELLAS SPA D01

DIAMANTE A&T MAGAZINE part-time participation

DOMO GRANITI SRL D22

FRACCAROLI e BALZAN SPA F08-G07

GMM SPA – GRAVELLONA MACCHINE MARMO D01

INTERMAC – DONATONI F16-G15

LIFTSTYLE SRL E06

MARCOLINI MARMI SPA D20-E19

MARMOMACCHINE INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE D17

MEC SRL F08-G07

MONTRESOR & C SRL F08-G07

NAMCO CO. SRL D10-E09

NICOLAI DIAMANT SRL D14-E13

PEDRINI SPA AD UNICO SOCIO E15

PELLEGRINI MECCANICA SPA E06

PRUSSIANI ENGINEERING F14-G13

SIMEC SPA D18

SUPER SELVA SRL F08-G07

 

Kyrgyzstan:

 

ТМSTONE, ОсОО B07

 

Russia:

 

AITERA COMPANY, LLC A24

ALBASTOV R.B., PE H09

ALMI, LLC G03

ALVAND, LLC A32-B21

AMBERHOUSE B05

ARCHDIALOG, AGENCY A21

ARCHITECT, NEWS AGENCY СА P01

ARCHITECTURE-MARBLE-GRANITE, LLC («AMG» LLC) G04

ARHINOVOSTI IS AN ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN ON-LINE MAGAZINE part-time participation

ART GRАNIT, LLC C32-D33

BIRYUZA, PLC C02

BOULYKA, PE / REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE OF BALTEA DC B08-C07

BST, MAGAZINE (BULLETIN OF CONSTRUCTION MASHINERY) part-time participation

BUILDING EXPERT, PUBLISHING HOUSE part-time participation

BULLETIN OF INDUSTRY, PUBLISHING HOUSE LLC A29

CATALOGUE OF MINERALS part-time participation

CHETYRE SEDMYKH, ООО D06

CIH.ru part-time participation

CLEANING, MAGAZINE A29

COMPANY ALMIR, LLC D02-E01

DACHADECOR part-time participation

DELK, RESEARCH AND PRODUCTION CENTER G08

DIAMMARKET, LLC E05

DI-STAR CENTRE, LLC H12

DOMA STROIM, WEB PORTAL part-time participation

EKIM, LLC A14

ELIT SM LLC P06

EMBRU, LLC A30

ERMIS, LLC A17

EUROFORUM/EXHIBITION “KARELIAN STONE. ROADS OF KARELIA 2016″А25

EUROSTONE GROUP, LLC С10

EXPERIMENTALNY ZAVOD, NPO, LLC C01

EXPOCLUB.RU part-time participation

EXPOMAP.RU part-time participation

FABRIKA ISKUSSTV part-time participation

GLOBAL STONE, PRODUCTION AND TRADE GROUP OF COMPANIES A15

GMG ABRASIVI B12

GORNAYA PROMYSHLENNOST, INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL JOURNAL part-time participation

GORNY ZHURNAL (MINING MAGAZINE) part-time participation

GRANDSTYL, LLC F02

GRANITNYE VAZY A07

GREEN CITY – MEDIA-RESOURCE part-time participation

HOUSE AND INTERIOR, ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN CENTER A29

IMPEXSTONE, LLC C11

JEWEL & TRAVEL, MAGAZINE H01

JS-JET, LLC F12-G11

KAMENNIY DVOR, LLC A11

KAMI, MACHINE TRADE ASSOCIATION B06-C05

KAM-INDUSTRY G10-H11

KAMNEREZ, LLC A34

KARELSKIYE MASTERSKIYE, LLC part-time participation

KASHUBA DESIGN, INTERNATIONAL INTERIOR AND ARCHITECTURE BUREAU P12

KITSONE C37

KNOW-HOUSE.RU part-time participation

KOELGAMRAMOR, PLC A06, C03

KOMPOZIT XXI CENTURY, COMPANY LTD H02

KORAL, LLC G02

KPD-TECHNO, LLC G12-H13

LENSTROYKOMPLEKTATSIA, JSC part-time participation

LUK-MEDIA, JSC A19

MABL, LLC C08

MANAGEMENT COMPANY “VOZROZHDENIJE TRADE HOUSE”, LLC C06-D05

MECHANIZATION OF CONSTRUCTION, JOURNAL part-time participation

MEGASTROY RESURSY, LLC B04

METALL-KAMEN-STYL, LLC D15

MINE MANAGEMENT COMPANY «VOZROZHDENIJE», LLC C06-D05

MINERAL RECOURSES OF RUSSIA. ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT JOURNAL part-time participation

MINERALOVODSKY STONE WORKING PLANT, OAO B09

MINERALS OF ZABAIKALIA А26

MINING INSTITUTE AS PART OF THE NATIONAL RESEARCH TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY MOSCOW INSTITUTE OF STEEL AND ALLOYS H06

MIRAL, LLC C09

MKK-HОLDING, PLC G06

NEW VILLAGE LOW CONSTRUCTION, MAGAZINE A22

NIBORIT, RESEARCH AND PRODUCTION COMPANY, LLC D13

ONEZHSKY GABBRO, LLC A13

PEIVE, LLC G01

PERM MASTEROVAYA A03PETRAKOMPLEKT, LLC H04

PETROMRAMOR, LLC B03

PHOTOCERAMICS TECHNOLOGIES CENTER D08-E07

PROEKT TSENTR (PROJECT CENTER) COMPANY P02

PROFF LINE, LLC C17

PROVIDERS OF MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT, INTERNET PROJECT P03

PSK STONESTROY, LLC part-time participation

RADI DOMA PRO part-time participation

REAL-RK, LLC F25

REMONT V MOSKVE, THE SPECIALIZED NEWSPAPERA29

RIF-MRAMOR, LLC H03

ROSTOVEMALIZDELIYA, LLC H18

SAMOYLOV IP, B38

SAUNO, LLC C14

SCALA-KARELIA, PRODUCTION COMPANY, LLC A20

SCULPTURE AND DÉCOR A01SERVICE KAMNIA, TRADE COMPANY, LLC F11

SHAKHIN, LLC A12

SOFTELECTRONICS, ООО F10-G09

SOVREMENNIY DOM MAGAZINE (MODERN HOUSE) P02

STONE AND BUSINESS, MAGAZINE D09

STONE-GROUP C04-D03

STONE-SERVICE-NEVA, LLC E02-F01

STONESTORE, LLC part-time participation

STROITELNAYA ORBITA, MAGAZINE P08

STROYKA.RU part-time participation

STROYLASER, LLC A10

STROYMATERIALY, PUBLISHING HOUSE part-time participation

STYLEFASAD, LLC F04

TAMAROV V.YE., PE A28

TECHABRAZIVY, LLC D07

TECHNO-ULMA, LLC D01

TERRITORY ENGINEERING, MAGAZINE part-time participation

TRANSMAISTER LTD B10

TRIMSTROY-MONUMENT, LLC A09

TRIO DIAMOND H05

UNION OF MOSCOW ARCHITECTS A23

UNION OF MOSCOW DESIGNERS A27

URALDOM, LLC H08

URALSKYE KAMNI, LLC C12-D11

VSYO O MIRE STROITELSTVA, MAGAZINE P04

VESTNIK: ZODCHIY. 21st CENTURY, MAGAZINE A29

VSYO DLYA KAMNYA, LLC A02-B01

VSYO DLYA STROYKI, MAGAZINE P05

VYSTAVOCHNY MOST, INFORMATION AGENCY part-time participation

WORLD STONE MARKET part-time participation

YTA LLC F16-G15

VENEZIA. STONE & CERAMICS-OPT, ООО part-time participation

 

San Marino:

 

EMMEDUE D12-E11

 

Ukraine:

 

DOBRYN, LLC A08

GEO-INVEST, LLC H14

LITVIN, CHP – KRAVCHENKO, CHP H20

STROYKAMEN, INDUSTRIAL-TRADING HOUSE A04

VD, COMPANY H16

WEBPRORAB.COM part-time participation

 

Tunisia:

 

DREAM LAND LMD B19

 

Venezuela:

 

CANTERAS Y MARMOLES DE VENEZUELA H22

GRANITOS BOLIVAR, C.A. H22

TÉCNICA MARMOLERA VENEZOLANA, C.A. (TECVEMAR, C.A.) H22

 

The UK stone market report January 2014 – part 5

Growth returns to the UK – report February 2011

This report was first published in the Official Catalogue of the Natural Stone Show 2011. To download the pages from the catalogue as PDFs, click here. To go to the Natural Stone Show website, click here.

Last year (2010) ended as it had begun in the British Isles – under several centimetres of snow. That might make for some pretty pictures but it tends to shut down construction sites and bring the UK and Ireland, which just aren’t geared up for snow, to a grinding halt.

Yet in spite of the problems posed by the weather, both the construction industry in the UK and the economy in general returned to growth in 2010, although the snow did take its inevitable toll on the construction sector with output falling in both the first and fourth quarters of the year.

Nevertheless, the industry performed well in the second and third quarters to grow 5.1% in the year overall, contributing to 1.4% growth in the economy as a whole.

There are no equivalent figures produced in the UK for the stone industry, but with around three-quarters of the stone used in Britain being imported, import figures provide a good snapshot of trends in the industry. And they indicate growth last year was more than 4%.

The fall in construction output in the final quarter of last year could simply mean that work moves forward a month or so, as it did last year.

There are some major developments coming on stream this year and the Olympics are boosting demand for stone in London as hotels, restaurants and public areas such as underground stations prepare for the 2012 games.

Certainly anecdotal evidence from the suppliers of machinery and consumables supports the proposition that the stone industry is gearing up for the opportunities of the year ahead.

There has not been much investment in machines by masonry companies in the UK or Ireland since the world’s bank debt crisis started hitting the rest of the economy in 2008. But according to the companies selling the almost exclusively imported stone processing machinery that is used by the UK stone industry, processing companies started investing again last year to give themselves an edge in an increasingly price sensitive and competitive market place.

That price sensitivity has continued to benefit stone suppliers from the Far East. UK imports from China grew by more than 10% last year and India did even better, up more than 15%. Imports from Asia now account for 58% of stone coming into the UK by value and 68% by volume.

The value of stone imports from Asia first became greater than imports from Europe in 2007 and they have stayed ahead ever since.

Italy is the main European supplier of stone to the UK, but exports to the UK have been hit hard by the fall in the value of sterling, which has increased the price of imports in the UK.

The weakness of sterling has increased the prices of imports from Asia as well as from Europe, but the Chinese and Indians have done more to keep their prices down. Italy has practically conceded the battle on price and is looking to add extra value to the stone it is selling.

You will be able to see some of the ways the Italians are doing that at the Natural Stone Show in the Marmomacc Meets Design feature.

1

They are using their sophistication in design and production to create intricate stone products rather than the more prosaic polished slab, tiles, hard landscaping and memorials that tend to be bought from Asia.

The Italians have certainly increased the price of the products they are selling to the UK. The average price of stone imports from Italy last year was £990 a tonne, compared with an average price from China of £298 a tonne and from India of £223 a tonne.

That probably explains why stone imports from Italy fell by about 40% last year, according to the figures compiled by HM Revenue & Customs.

While most stone used in the UK for most purposes these days is imported, there remain about 300 active quarries run by about 200 operators producing dimensional stone in the UK.

The UK has practically no marble and there is not much granite being extracted these days because it cannot compete with the prices of Asian imports, but the UK does have a good selection of limestones, sandstones and slates that are used for building, interiors and hard landscaping.

It is in demand by the conservation and repair, maintenance & improvement sectors, but is also used in new build, especially in sensitive areas where planners want traditional materials used and in impressive, prestigious buildings where architects want to make a statement. British limestones, sandstones and slates are also used for interiors, especially, but not exclusively, for floors. The subtle, subdued hues of the stones of the British Isles lend themselves to unpolished finishes making statements of quiet authority.

The dimensional stone production industry in the UK is so small that it is considered too commercially sensitive to produce figures about the industry. However, the producers report reasonable strength of demand for their products.

Walling for housing developments has fallen in line with the collapse of housebuilding in general, but where projects are still going ahead the weakness of sterling is making UK stone more competitive against imports.

There was more British stone than ever before being exhibited at the Natural Stone Show this year.

In Ireland, life is hard.

For many years the Celtic Dragon enjoyed greater growth than the UK and invested heavily in equipment to extract and process its own and imported stones. Stone from the UK often went to Ireland for processing because their level of investment gave processors there a competitive advantage.

But the growth peaked in 2006 and they have been in decline since then. In 2009, construction output was just 39% of what it had been in 2006. And by the third quarter of last year (the latest figures available at the time of writing) it had fallen another 39% year-on-year.

But there are signs that the decline in construction in Ireland has reached the bottom of the curve. The economy in general is, perhaps, improving with the government forecasting 1.7% growth this year.

Construction played a major part in the spectacular growth of Ireland that averaged 6% between 1995 and the end of 2006. In 2006, Ireland’s GDP per capita was greater than America’s.

The country’s population was growing as a result of immigration and for the first time in 100 years exceeded 4million, peaking at nearly 4.5million. The extra people needed more houses to live in and offices and factories to work in. Construction boomed.

Fuelled by strong economic growth, immigration and generous tax incentives and grants from the government, as well as low interest rates and loose credit making borrowing easy, property prices increased more rapidly in Ireland in the decade up to 2006 than in any other economy of the developed world. Between 1996 and 2006 prices more than trebled, even though annual completion rates also trebled to 93,000.

Construction seemed to offer guaranteed, no-risk returns, and speculative building raced on. With the crash, Ireland has been left with more buildings than it needs (an excess of 300,000 houses, 17% of its housing stock, according to a report by University College Dublin in 2010) and prices have collapsed, although there were still nearly 20,000 dwellings built last year.

According to the Permanent TSB/ ESRI house price index almost a decade of price rises have been wiped out since 2006. In the third quarter of 2010 the average price of a house fell a further 14.8%, to Euro198,689, compared with a year earlier. That is 36% down on the peak at the end of 2006.

Stone sales in the UK – report May 2010

Stone imports to the UK went into decline last year after having held up reasonably well in 2008, when the value of imports was 4% above the 2007 figure. In 2009 the value of imports fell 16%. But that flatters the position. The weakness of stirling (a 15% fall against the Euro and a 25% fall against the US dollar compared with 2007 rates) increased prices through the poor exchange rate. Volumes of stone imports fell by 43%, according to UK government figures.

2

The UK stone industry got off to a good start in 2008, continuing the exceptional growth that had started in 1996 and continued on a general upwards trend well into double figures ever since. However, as the year progressed the reality of the recession started to bite and after April sales began to fall. The year still showed that increase in the value of imports on 2007 overall. Of course, the rise in prices must also have played its part in curtailing demand.

Imports account for the majority of stone sales in the UK. The indigenous stone quarrying industry is so small that no accurate figures for extraction of dimensional stone from the 300 quarries active in the British Isles (which includes Ireland) exist. Anecdotally, sales of British stone had been pulled along with the general increase in demand for stone in Britain throughout the second half of the 1990s and into the new millennium. Again anecdotally, the fall in demand for stone last year was not as bad for home produced stone as it has been for imports.

Leading the growth in stone sales over the past 15 years have been the interiors market (especially granite and latterly engineered quartz worktops and limestone flooring) and hard landscaping. Both benefited from the falling price of imports thanks to the growth of first India and then China as the source of stone and the falling price of diamond tools to process granite. There have also been a relatively large number of palacial private mansions and country houses built in the British Isles. The top end of the market has held up better than the lower end, which tends to help traditional masonry using indigenous stones because these projects are less price sensative than commercial or public sector projects, where the money being spent has to be accounted for to shareholders or tax payers.

Housebuilding has been particularly severeley hit by the recession as buyers fear further price falls could put them into negative equity. In any case, when people believe the price of anything is going to fall, they are likely to wait until it has fallen to buy it. Even if they want to buy, mortgages have become difficult to secure as the banks demand larger deposits and have increased interest rates on loans. The granite worktop and limestone floor and fireplace market have been particularly badly hit. Many kitchen shops have gone out of business and with them their granite worktop suppliers. Small worktop companies who had put their houses up as collateral for money borrowed to invested in a saw and CNC workcentre were particularly vulnerable. Granite, sandstone and other stones (notably porphyry and some limestone) are the preferred choices of hard landscapers and landscape projects have continued, although imports of stone for this sector fell in 2008 and 2009.

Stone use in every area has grown in the past 15 years. Cities have always used stone, internally and externally, for important buildings. There was also an increasing number of fairly modest houses built with stone walls and archetectural masonry, particularly in those areas of Britain that have traditionally built in stone – the villages of The Cotswolds, Yorkshire, central southern England, Scotland and parts of Wales. Here, planners often insisted on locally produced stone being used to match existing buildings and preserve the vernacular character of such areas. But imports also benefited as all over the country housing developments have incorporated stone fireplaces, and stone floors in reception areas and kitchens in particular, but not exclusively. And nearly all this stone is imported. Latterly, underfloor heating has increased the attraction of stone flooring in living areas. England has always had a lot of conservatories added to houses as a home improvement and, with underfloor heating, the attraction of natural stone flooring in conservatories has increased.

Hotels have been refurbished using marble and polished limestone for bathrooms and floors in reception areas and, in some cases, the rooms. Many offices have used marble, granite, limestone and other decorative stones for floors, wall linings, reception desks, stairs, lift surrounds and other public areas, as well as for cladding for the outer skins of the buildings.

The aesthetic for the natural beauty of stone has pervaded most areas of society in Britain and has been used in ever more interesting and intricate ways as the CNC technology for working stone has improved and become more affordable. Even waterjet cutting, which has not made a big impact on the British market, is beginning to be used for creating intricate patters, especially on flooring and paving.

The past 15 years have been a heady time for the growth of the stone market in the UK that has benefited the whole industry and seen a lot of new companies entering the market.

There is a nervousness in the stone industry now that is curtailing any further investment, especially in machinery for processing stone, sales of which had enjoyed the boom in the industry. Following the May election, the new Government has to address the level of debt in the UK and fiscal and monetary measures taken for that will put further pressure on demand. The country as a whole is nervous and fears a dip back into recession. Until confidence returns, there will not be much of an improvement in sales.

Report from 2005: The rapid growth of the stone industry in the UK that began in the second half of the 1990s has continued into the new millennium, mostly fuelled by imports and much of it associated with the falling price of stone in general and granite in particular.

Since the end of the protracted period of inactivity in the construction industry that lasted for the first half of the 1990s, the stone industry has seen continuous growth.

According to a report* by Symonds Group (now Capita Symonds) for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister that was published in 2004, the volume of dimensional stone imports had increased by 323% to 1,990,000tonnes by 2001 from a low point in 1996.

The stone industry is notoriously under recorded and difficult to pin down in terms of hard figures, but the limited statistics used by Natural Stone Specialist to track the market have shown continued increases in imports every year since then.

We use 16 categories (commodity codes) from HM Revenue & Customs as an indicator of developments. These figures underestimate the amount and value of stone being imported because they do not include all the dimensional stone that comes into the country. However, they do provide a snapshot of the market that can identify trends using comparable data going back to 1997.

Figures for 2004 show the biggest annual growth yet by volume (46%) although growth by value was only 17%.

This is a familiar trend, even if the divergence is unusually extreme. It reflects the falling prices of stone as well as significant growth in low cost natural stone hard landscaping products, granite worktops and natural stone tiles, mostly limestone or travertine. The lower prices are in no small measure due to ever more stone coming from China and India, esepcially, but also of the falling price of travertine, much of which comes from Turkey.

Both India and China have come from practically nowhere in the international trade of stone 15 years ago to being up there with Italy among the world’s largest now. A major factor in that growth is the low price of their stone.

In the build up to the millennium, city, town and village rejuvenation schemes became much more likely to use natural stone for hard landscaping and the trend has continued since then, helped by the falling prices of granite and sandstone hard landscaping products that no longer appear to be such an expensive alternative to concrete or clay. Perhaps the fact that low cost imported stone is available from familiar as well as new sources (many British quarries, for example, have introduced imported ranges) has also helped.

Imports of setts, kerbs and flagstones rose by 104% by volume in 2004 and 74% by value as customers moved away from the recently popular source of such materials, Portugal (volumes down 21%), to India (up 188%) and China (up 210%). It cannot be coincidental that Portugal’s mean price per tonne for these products was £189 while China’s was £119 and India’s £110. And the prices from China and India both fell in 2004, while Portugal’s increased.

An area of burgeoning growth for imports has been granite for worktops, helped both by fashion and, again, the falling price of granite. However, the prices of granite started falling before India and China had made much impression on the market because of vast improvements in the machinery and diamond tooling to work this hard material. Those developments brought down the cost of processing granite.

But the price of imported polished granite is continuing to fall (value of imports in 2004 up 11%, volumes up 21%). Here, though, a significant factor in the fall of the price was Italy, where the value of imports to the UK fell to £628 a tonne in 2004, more in line with prices from India (£614/tonne) and China (£541/tonne), a fall that is not totally unrelated to the fact that Italy is buying a lot of stone from China and India to process and sell on to the rest of the world.

In general, the price of all imported stone is falling, with the value of imports in all five groups represented on the graphs shown in the PDF of pages that can be downloaded below, growing more slowly than the volume of imports. While that continues, demand for imported stone products might reasonably be expected to continue to grow.

The UK producers, especially the northern sandstone quarriers, received a boost from all those Lottery funded Millennium Projects as the previous century came to an end. City, town and village regeneration schemes consumed a lot of stone. Since then, stone has remained popular for such schemes, although, as noted, the stone used is increasingly likely to be imported.

A resumption of activity in commercial building construction, in particular, in the past eight years has helped UK quarriers, especially where planning authorities want to see materials used that match the materials of existing buildings. This consideration has helped the UK’s limestone and sandstone producers.

Planners also like to see vernacular traditions of stone housebuilding continuing in areas such as the Cotswolds, the Peak District and Yorkshire, which have long traditions of building in stone. The concrete alternatives to stone (sometimes called reconstituted stone) that were used in the 1960s and ’70s have not weathered well and planners now often insist on natural stone being used for house and garden walls. Concrete ‘stone’ is more widely still being used for roofs in spite of both indigenous and imported natural stone alternatives being available.

That local stones are more often being required as a condition of planning permission has, again, helped British limestone and sandstone quarriers, not to mention the suppliers of saws, croppers, tumblers and other machinery used for processing the stone.

Production and use of indigenous stone in the UK is even harder to measure than imports because there are many small firms among the 200 quarry operators that produce stone from 300 active and intermittently active quarries in the British Isles.

The figures produced in the Symonds report are generally considered by operating companies to be an accurate reflection of the volumes of stone produced in Britain, many of the larger companies having co-operated with Symonds in preparing the report for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

The figures from 1992 to 2001 presented in the report are reproduced on the ‘UK Production’ graph on the downloadable PDF pages below. Official figures collected since then are incomplete. And they have only ever included figures for volumes as the dimensional stone industry is considered so small as to make values commercially sensitive.

While imports continue to satisfy a burgeoning demand for stone interiors in commercial and domestic properties, especially granite worktops, marble bathrooms, stone-tiled wetrooms and limestone floors, British stone is still finding an eager audience. It is used for cladding new builds, for flooring, wall linings, receptions, landscaping and housing. It is worked on the banker into fine masonry and carvings and is always in demand for sensitive conservation work on the country’s finest buildings.

Source: Stone specialist