“Did you know that no two stones are alike?” With this thought-provoking question, Portuguese natural stone companies at the landmark Marmomac 2026 in Verona shared the story of a sector bridging millions of years of natural heritage with modern architecture and sustainable design.
According to the Portuguese Mineral Resources Association (ASSIMAGRA), the country’s presence at the world’s leading natural stone exhibition went beyond showcasing aesthetic excellence, highlighting a firm commitment to a greener, more sustainable future for extraction and processing.
Low Carbon Footprint and Advanced Technology
Data presented by ASSIMAGRA and the Portuguese delegation highlighted that Portugal’s natural stone sector maintains the lowest carbon emissions within the national construction industry, guided by a Decarbonization Roadmap aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050.
Key technological advancements showcased during the event include:
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87% Emission Reduction: Innovative Portuguese block extraction technology achieves a drastic reduction in emissions during production.
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Circular Economy: Stone processing by-products are fully repurposed across other industrial supply chains.
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Local Development: Value and technical expertise generated by the industry remain directly embedded in regional communities across northern and southern Portugal.
Institutional Support for Global Reach
The successful participation of Portuguese companies in Verona was backed by a strong institutional delegation, including trade promotion agency AICEP, the Directorate-General for Energy and Geology (DGEG), and the Municipalities of Sintra and Vila Viçosa — regions integral to the extraction of Portuguese limestone and marble.
ASSIMAGRA expressed its appreciation to all participating companies and institutional partners, emphasizing that Portuguese natural stone is not merely a material, but “a heritage of nature, transformed by people looking confidently toward the future.”
