What was the trend of marble products exports in 2020 compared to 2019?
Recently published Eurostat statistics show the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also of the trade war between the USA – China, in the exports of marble products of Greece.
The trade war that started in 2018, negatively affected the exports of marble products of all countries – suppliers in 2019. Greece specifically, between 2018 – 2019 recorded a decrease in the value of exports -9.63% and in quantity -6.09%. Adjustment and normalization of the market was expected in 2020, however, it was impossible to make reliable forecasts for the course of exports.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdowns that were imposed, put an end to any positive forecast for 2020. The total exports of marble products of Greece between 2019 – 2020 recorded a decrease of -26.97% in value and -23.05% in quantity. However, comparing the statistics from 2015 onwards, we find that 2020 exports reached the levels of 2016. Therefore, we could say that Greek marble exports went back five years…
In the Table below we see in detail the monthly changes (%) of exports.
In the Table we observe the fall throughout the year. In the first half of 2020 the decline, due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown, is rapid. In the second half, an increase is recorded, with the exception of the months of August and December, when there was recorded a fall.
In the exports of marble blocks and slabs in 2020, a decrease was recorded, compared to 2019, -34.53% in value and -28.27 in quantity. In the finished marble the decrease in value was -14.48% and in quantity -2.72%.
In 2019, the share of exports of marble blocks and slabs, in total exports, was 62.32% in value and 79.56% in quantity. For 2020 the share is 55.87% in value and 74.16% in quantity. In finished marbles respectively, in 2019 the share in value was 37.68% and in quantity 20.44%. In 2020 the share is 44.13% in value and 25.84% in quantity.
In the main destinations of Greek marble products between 2019 – 2020, there was a decline in exports to China by -36.48% in value and 29.66% in quantity, to the United Arab Emirates -17.9% in value and – 14.10% in quantity, Algeria -24.95% in value and -29.33% in quantity, Qatar -12.3% in value and -16.29% in quantity, Cyprus -10.15% in value and -18.79 in quantity. In exports to the USA there was a decrease in value -11.42% while in the quantity an increase of + 6.54% was recorded.
* The statistics are derived from the analysis of the Harmonized System (HS) Codes:
25151100: Marble and travertine, crude or roughly trimmed.
25151200: Marble and travertine, merely cut, by sawing or otherwise, into blocks or slabs of a square or rectangular shape.
68022100: Marble, travertine and alabaster articles thereof, simply cut or sawn, with a flat or even surface (excl. with a completely or partly planed, sand-dressed, coarsely or finely ground or polished surface, tiles, cubes and similar articles of subheading 6802,10, setts, curbstones and flagstones)
68029100: Marble, travertine and alabaster, in any form (excl. tiles, cubes and similar articles of subheading 6802.10, imitation jewellery, clocks, lamps and lighting fittings and parts thereof, buttons, original sculptures and statuary, setts, curbstones and flagstones)
*Due to consistent data flow, statistics may alter during the year
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