Export volumes tick upward while unit prices see a sharp decline, shifting the industry focus toward quality and value optimization.
In a period marked by sluggish global economic growth and heightened geopolitical tensions, China’s natural stone sector demonstrated notable resilience and adaptability throughout 2025. According to the «2025 China Stone Import & Export Trade Report», released during the High-Quality Development Forum for the 15th Five-Year Plan, the market managed to maintain stable trade volumes. However, the industry is navigating significant structural changes characterized by unprecedented price pressure and shifting international dynamics.
The report was presented by Ms. He Jiaoyang, Deputy Director of the China Stone Material Association, at a joint event co-hosted with the Xiamen Stone Fair. The unveiled figures reveal a consistent macroeconomic trend impacting both imports and exports: a simultaneous stabilization or growth in trade volume contrasted against a sharp contraction in unit prices, reflecting aggressive global market competition.
Exports: Volume Gains Overshadowed by Falling Values
On the export side, China successfully expanded the physical volume of stone products delivered to international markets, reaching 7.985 million tons—a year-on-year (YoY) increase of +2.2% compared to 2024. Conversely, the economic value of these exports plummeted to US$4.25 billion, representing a steep -15.5% YoY decline.
Historically, Chinese stone export volumes peaked in 2017 at 12.57 million tons before hitting a decade-low of 7.48 million tons in 2022. While post-pandemic demand has driven volume recovery, overall financial returns remain severely compressed. Industry analysts attribute this gap to falling average selling prices and intense price undercutting among international suppliers.
The export structure remains highly concentrated, with three core product categories representing approximately 80% of total outbound volume. Among these, processed granite products continue to hold the largest market share but face the steepest deflationary pressure:
| Export Product Category | 2025 Volume (Mt) | 2025 Unit Price ($/ton) | 2024 Volume (Mt) | 2024 Unit Price ($/ton) |
| Processed granite products | 2.974 | 496 | 2.979 | 676 |
| Processed marble, travertine & pyrophyllite | 1.058 | 1,048 | 0.937 | 1,206 |
| Artificial stone tiles, flat stones, etc. | 1.086 | 778 | 1.088 | 878 |
In terms of regional destinations, South Korea maintained its position as China’s largest export market for stone products, accounting for 19.26% of total export value. The United States secured the second position at 12.08%, followed by Japan (5.65%), Vietnam (5.35%), and Malaysia (3.92%).
Imports: Stable Inbound Volumetrics with Key Global Partners
The import sector displayed greater structural stability regarding raw material demand, though it was equally subject to global price corrections. Total import volume stood at 11.048 million tons, remaining essentially flat compared to 2024 (11.044 million tons). The total valuation of these imports reached US$2.24 billion, marking a nominal YoY decrease of -0.88%.
A retrospective view of the past decade shows that China’s stone imports stabilized at peak levels exceeding 14.6 million tons between 2017 and 2019 before balancing out around the 11-million-ton mark in recent years. In parallel, import value, which peaked at US$3.0 billion in 2021, has established a steady baseline of approximately US$2.2 billion.
Geographically, India ranks as China’s premier supplier by value, commanding a 19.63% market share. It is followed closely by Türkiye (17.97%), Brazil (13.53%), and Italy (12.94%). Notably, countries like Portugal (3.24%), Iran (3.20%), and Greece (2.66%) continue to hold strategic positions within the top tier, largely driven by the steady Chinese demand for high-end blocks and raw varieties.
The vast majority of imports (over 90% of total volume) consist of raw materials destined for domestic processing hubs:
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Marble and travertine slabs or blocks: 3.872 million tons (Average: $278/ton)
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Granite in its natural state or roughly dressed: 3.488 million tons (Average: $131/ton)
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Granite blocks by sawing or other methods: 2.055 million tons (Average: $171/ton)
Outlook and Industry Outlook
The 2025 performance signals that the Chinese stone industry is transitioning into a mature operational phase. Success is no longer measured by mere volume growth but by strict cost optimization and value chain enhancement. The severe pressure on export margins serves as a clear indicator for manufacturers to pivot away from aggressive price competition and focus on innovation, technical precision, and high-value architectural products to meet evolving international demand.
