France is the second-largest importer of ceramics in the world. Despite its marble and granite imports being much lower, France remains among the top ten of the largest importers.
In 2021, the import value of France’s marbles, granites and ceramics recorded a five-year record. The quantity for imports of marble and ceramics also performed at record levels during the same year. Finally in granite, the imports number was approximately at the same level as in 2017.
The table below shows the changes (%) in the value and quantity of imports of marbles, granites and ceramics in 2021:
Marble imports have recorded a rapid increase over the last five years. Between 2017 – 2021 the value of imports increased by +61.34% and the quantity by +94.6%. In the same period, the import value of granite imports increased by +15.25% and the quantity by +2.6%. In ceramics, the increase in value was +12.84% and quantity +17.52%.
The continuous rise in marble imports, even in 2020 during the pandemic outbreak, reveals a shift in France towards marble while granite declines and ceramics remain steadily upwards.
The rise in marble is due to increased imports from Turkey. In granite, on the other hand, it is due to rising imports from Italy, India, Spain and Portugal. Finally, in ceramics, it is thanks to imports from Turkey, Italy and Spain increasing.
*The statistics are derived from the analysis of the Tariff Class Codes – Harmonized System (HS) Codes:
251511:Marble and travertine, crude or roughly trimmed.
251512: Marble and travertine, merely cut, by sawing or otherwise, into blocks or slabs of a square or rectangular shape(2010-2500);Marble and travertine, merely cut, by sawing or otherwise, into blocks or slabs of a square or rectangular shape(1988-1991).
251611: Granite, crude or roughly trimmed (excl. already with the characteristics of setts, curbstones and flagstones).
251612: Granite, merely cut, by sawing or otherwise, into blocks or slabs of a square or rectangular shape (excl. already with the characteristics of setts, curbstones and flagstones).
680221: 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).
680291: 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).
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).
6907: Ceramic flags and paving, hearth or wall tiles; ceramic mosaic cubes and the like, whether or not on a backing (excl. of siliceous fossil meals or similar siliceous earths, refractory goods, tiles specially adapted as table mats, ornamental articles and tiles specifically manufactured for stoves).
*Due to consistent data flow, statistics may alter during the year
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