Did the exports of the largest supplier of finished granite and marble products in the world increase or decrease?
In the midst of the trade war and the COVID-19 pandemic, China managed to stem the decline in exports of both finished granite and marble products, confirming its industrial power.
The trade war between the USA – China, which started in 2018, led to an overall decline in exports. However, the analysis of the statistics of the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China shows that between 2018 – 2020 in the value of exports of finished granite fell -1.26% and in marble -4.15%.
Reaching 2021, with China’s industrial production having returned to normal, exports in the first quarter increased compared to the first quarter of 2020. However, compared to the fourth quarter of 2020, exports fell sharply. In the Table below we see the changes (%) of China’s finished granite and marble products exports between the relevant quarters.
In the Table we observe the increase between the first quarter 2020 – 2021 in the value of exports and the decrease in quantity. A common element in exports of both finished granite and marble products is the increase in the average price per tonne. On the contrary, between the fourth quarter of 2020 and the first of 2021 we see the big drop in value and quantity. At the average price per ton of finished granite the drop is much smaller than that of marble.
After an unprecedented crisis, the increase in the value of exports between the first quarter of 2020 – 2021 is a positive message for the market. However, it should be noted that the value of exports in the first quarter of 2021 of finished granite is far from that of previous years, while exports of finished marble products are on the rise.
*The statistics are derived from the analysis of the Tariff Class Codes – Harmonized System (HS) Codes:
68022110: 68029110: Carvings of marble, travertine and alabaster.
68029190: Worked building stone nes, of marble, travertine and alabaster.
68022300: Monumental / building stone, cut / sawn flat or even, granite.
68029390: Worked building stone nes, of granite.
68029311: Gravestones of granite.
68029319: Other carvings of granite
*Due to consistent data flow, statistics may alter during the year
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