As of 2025, the strategic Brazil–U.S. relationship in the natural stone sector enters a critical turning point.
President Trump has announced the imposition of a new punitive 50% tariff on all imports from Brazil, effective August 1, 2025, in retaliation for the political prosecution of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro. In practice, this means a quadrupling of existing tariffs (from 10% to 50%) on a wide range of products, including processed marble and granite.
The Value of the U.S. Market for Brazil – Ten-Year Analysis (2015–2024)
Available data shows that the United States is the cornerstone of Brazil’s natural stone exports:
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Processed Granite: In 2024, exports to the U.S. reached $223.3 million, accounting for 67.7% of Brazil’s total granite export value.
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Processed Marble: Exports to the U.S. amounted to $48.6 million, representing 78.8% of the total value of Brazilian marble exports.
Overall, 7 to 9 out of every 10 dollars Brazil earns from its natural stone exports come from the U.S. market. The same applies to volume: 71% of granite and 79% of marble exports are destined for the U.S.
A Declining Trend Before the Tariff
This dependency has been gradually decreasing:
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The U.S. share of Brazil’s granite exports dropped from 84.4% in 2015 to 67.7% in 2024 (by value).
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For marble, the corresponding figure declined from 85.3% to 78.8%, without fundamentally shifting the country’s strategic orientation.
This decline stems from global challenges (pandemic, inflation, energy costs) and growing commercial pressure from lower-cost Asian competitors.
Early Signs for 2025
According to data for Q1 2025, Brazil’s export rates to the United States remained similarly high:
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For processed granite products, the U.S. absorbed 65% of the total export value.
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For processed marble, the share reached 76.4%.
These figures confirm Brazil’s continued heavy reliance on the U.S. market, just before the new 50% tariff takes effect. The implementation is expected to significantly affect these shares in the coming quarters.
The 50% Tariff as a Disruptive Catalyst
The imposition of a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports, with no product-specific exemptions, is expected to have a substantial impact on the industry:
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Increased prices for American importers, especially in categories where Brazil was dominant, such as dark and exotic granites.
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Loss of competitiveness for Brazilian products compared to counterparts from Turkey, India, or China.
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Potential redirection of exports to other markets—challenging due to geographic and commercial specialization.
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Uncertainty for small and medium-sized businesses in Espírito Santo, which depend almost entirely on U.S. orders.
What a Decade of Data Shows
From 2015 to 2024, Brazil exported:
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Over $5 billion worth of granite to the U.S. (~83% of total granite exports).
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Over $530 million in marble, with a similarly high dependency.
These figures highlight the Brazilian industry’s vulnerability to politically driven trade decisions, such as Trump’s recent announcement.
Outlook
The future will depend on:
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The duration of the tariffs (whether they are lifted after the elections or become permanent).
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Brazil’s response (countermeasures, diplomatic protests, or new trade deals).
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The flexibility of the Brazilian industry to seek new markets or absorb part of the cost.
Internationalization Strategy – The “It’s Natural” Program
Recognizing the long-standing importance of the U.S. market, Brazilian stone companies have increasingly turned to the global natural stone market to promote their materials and strengthen their international presence.
In this context, the program “It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone” was launched—a joint initiative by Centrorochas and ApexBrasil.
The program aims to strengthen and expand Brazilian natural stone exports through a mix of strategic actions including brand promotion, commercial outreach, business capability development, and organizational support.
The 50% U.S. tariff makes accelerating these efforts even more urgent, as compensating for potential losses poses a significant challenge for the industry.
