2021 marks almost five years since the referendum on the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union and two years since the pandemic outbreak. The impact of the two shocking events on imports of processed granite, marble and ceramics was different.
Statistics show that between 2017 – 2021 imports of processed granite and marble declined while imports of ceramics increased. Specifically, the total import value of processed granites decreased by -14.24%, marbles by -21.53%, while on the contrary, ceramics increased by +32.15%.
Between 2017 – 2021, the import value of finished granite from EU member states decreased by -62.64%, of marble by -47.13%, while that of ceramics increased by +2.68%. These changes are reflected in the shares of the 27 EU member countries in the UK’s total imports.
The table shows the gradual decline in the shares of the 27 EU member states. The table also shows that the share of imports of processed granite and marble is higher than that of ceramics.
Focusing on 2021, in the table below, we see the changes between 2020 – 2021 in total import value and imports from EU member countries.
The table highlights the significant drop in imports of processed marbles from EU member countries and the considerable increase in total imports of all materials.
The rise in total imports of processed granite is mainly due to China and India. Imports of processed marble are mainly due to China and Turkey. In ceramics, the increase is due to Turkey, India, Poland, Spain, and Italy.
*The statistics are derived from the analysis of the Tariff Class Codes – Harmonized System (HS) Codes:
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
For more statistics contact [email protected]
