According to the latest statistics from Centrorochas, Brazilian exports in the first five months of 2023 decreased in value by 12.33% compared to the same period in 2022, reaching about 427 million dollars. On the other hand, foreign sales were not positive also in quantities that decreased, in the same period considered, by 16.51% compared to the first five months of 2021.
Interestingly, 85% of all Brazilian exports of ornamental stones come from the State of Espirito Santo and in the first five months of 2023, the average price per ton of total Brazilian natural stone exports (US $ 607.21 per ton) increased by 5% compared to the same period last year.
Recall that last year the final average price per ton of natural stone exported was: India (US $ 158.1 per ton), Portugal (US $ 254.4 per ton), Turkey (US $ 292.1 per ton), Brazil (US $ 612.4 per ton), China (USD 806 per ton) and Italy (USD 970.4 per ton).
The Brazilian export of natural stones remains essentially concentrated in three countries. If we analyze the exports of May, we note that Brazilian exports went to the USA for 60.2% (US $ 57.8 million), followed by China for 7.9% (US $ 7.5 million) and from Italy for 6.5% (US $ 6.2 million).
The decrease in sales to the USA (the main market for Brazilian slabs and finished products) could be due to a general slowdown in imports from American distributors. Frankly, it is hoped that this is essentially the reason for the slowdown and not that the production capacity in Brazil has substantially exceeded the capacity of the US market to absorb all the Brazilian slabs and finished products.
Source: Comexstat, Centrorochas and Market Trends Analysis Office of the CONFINDUSTRIA MARMOMACCHINE Association
