China is the leading importer of raw marble and granite blocks and slabs in the world. At the same time, it remains a major player in exports of finished marble and granite. But what is the colleration between them?
Stonenews.eu, after studying the statistical results of the International Trade Centre, the UN Comtrade, the General Customs Administration of China and the National Statistical Institutes, is presenting the course of marble and granite blocks and slabs imports in the period 2009-2018 as well as the flow of finished marble and granite exports at the same period of time on the basis of their total value, plus the comparison between them.
The value of marble blocks and slabs imports has followed an overall upward trend over the last decade despite fluctuations. Similar was the trend of finished marble exports value with an overall positive sign over the same period.
More specifically, from 2009 to 2013, the trend in the value of marble blocks and slabs imports has steadily increased, to follow a downward trend until 2016, when imports have returned to surge. Continuous growth until 2015 for the value of finished marble exports, with a sharp decline in 2016, which continued in 2017, to get back to rising next year.
As for the comparison between them, while in most years the total value of marble blocks and slabs imports and the total value of finished products exports have been almost parallel, with imports being higher than exports, in 2015 and 2017 there were significant changes with figures being inverse. 2014 and 2016 were the convergence years with the import-export value almost equalized.
Steady, with a slight upward trend, was the course of granite blocks and slabs imports value, which barely exceeded $ 1 billion, because China has granite deposits. There was also an overall upward trend in the export value of finished granite, which was close to $ 5 billion.
In particular, 2014 was the year of the highest import value for granite blocks and slabs whereas the corresponding year for finished granite exports value was 2015.
Marble statistics are derived from the sum of HS codes 251511, 251512, 251520, 680221, 680291.
The granite statistics are derived from the sum of HS codes 251611, 251612, 680223, 680293.
