What was the trend of Portugal’s marble exports in 2020?
Portugal’s marble products exports fell in 2020 compared to 2019. According to Eurostat statistics between 2019 – 2020, a decrease in the value of exports was recorded by -17.47% while in quantity -24.17%.
A decrease was recorded in value by -29.39% and in quantity by -38.12% in marble blocks and slabs between 2019 – 2020. The decline is due to declining exports to China, which absorbs more than 50% of Portugal’s marble blocks and slabs.
In the finished marble products between 2019 – 2020 there was a decrease in value by -10.81% while in quantity there was an increase by + 14%. The course of marble blocks and slabs was affected by the rapid increase in exports to China. Statistics from previous years show that Portugal’s exports of marble blocks and slabs to China were minimal. However, between 2019 – 2020 they recorded an increase in value by + 520% and in quantity by + 1293%. The sharp rise continued in 2020, recording an increase, compared to 2020, in value by + 196% and in quantity by + 307%.
In the Table below we see the monthly changes (%) of Portugal’s marble exports between 2019 – 2020.
In the Table we observe the fall throughout the year with the exception of September and November. In the first half of 2020 the decline, due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown, is great. In the second half of the year, however, the data show a low recovery rate, mainly in terms of export value. The month with the highest exports was July while the lowest was August.
In the main destinations, except for China mentioned above, exports to Saudi Arabia fell in value by -6.5% and in quantity by -6.15%, France by -16.48% in value and -35, 51% in quantity and USA by -22.12% while the quantity increased by + 8.56%.
* 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 jewelery, 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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