Has the upward trend of finished marble and granite imports of France continued in 2018?
Stonenews.eu, after studying the statistical results of the International Trade Centre, the UN Comtrade and the National Statistical Institutes, is presenting the finished marble and granite imports of France in 2018 as well as the corresponding changes compared to 2017.
According to statistics, France is one of the top ten largest importers of natural decorative stones in the world. Imports of finished marble are clearly larger than granite ones, however, with a lower price per tonne.
In the last decade, finished marble and granite imports of France, despite fluctuations, are on the rise. Specifically, between 2009 – 2018 there was an increase in the value of finished marble imports by 25.74% and of finished granite imports by 17.46%.
In the following table we can see France’s imports of finished marble and granite in 2018 and the corresponding changes compared to 2017.
As we can see in the table, marble dominates against granite both in value and quantity. The price per tonne in HS Codes 680293 and 680291 has recovered after the fall of the previous years opposite to this of HS Codes 680221 and 680223 whose downward trend still continues.
2018 closed with a historical record high in import value of HS Code 680291. As for HS Code 680293, the import value reached the 2011 level.
* Due to consistent data flow, statistics may alter during the year
**The statistics are derived by the HS Codes below (Harmonized System Codes):
680221: Marble, travertine and alabaster articles thereof, simply cut or sawn, with a flat or even surface (excluding 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).
680291: Marble, travertine and alabaster, in any form (excluding 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).
680223: Granite and articles thereof, simply cut or sawn, with a flat or even surface (excluding with a completely or partly planed, sand-dressed, coarsely or finely ground or polished surface, tiles, cubes and similar articles of subheading 6802 10 00, setts, curbstones and flagstones).
680293: Granite, in any form, polished, decorated or otherwise worked (excluding tiles, cubes and similar articles of subheading 6802.10, imitation jewellery, clocks, lamps and lighting fittings and parts thereof, original sculptures and statuary, setts, curbstones and flagstones).
Source: Stonenews.eu, ITC, UN Comtrade
