Considering the 2022 US marble, granite, and ceramic import statistics, we have gone to our archives to see how the three materials have moved over the past decade. Specifically, we looked at the period 2013 – 2022, which essentially includes the recovery from the economic crisis that erupted in the US in 2007, the pandemic period and the resulting transportation problems, the energy crisis, and the rise in inflation.
These problems, combined with the drop in imports from China and the rise of ceramics, the path of US imports becomes even more important for marble and granite companies. With imports exceeding $2.3 billion, the US is the world’s largest importer of finished goods and an outlet for businesses trying to make up for losses from China’s decline.
Import statistics between 2013 – 2022 reveal the dominance of ceramics over marble and granite, which began in 2016 and continues through 2022. Typically, in 2022 the import volume of ceramics exceeded 3.4 million tons, while the import volume of marbles and granites cumulatively exceeded 2.6 million tons. The import value of ceramics in 2022 touched the levels of marble and granite and was closer than any other year.
Individually, however, the import patterns of the three materials differed significantly. Given the dominance of ceramics, the statistics for marble are very positive, while for granites are problematic.
Between 2013 – 2022 the import value of ceramics increased by +56.93% and the quantity by +62.72%. In the same period, marble imports increased in value by +49.8% and quantity by +34.79%. On the contrary, granite imports decreased in value by -30.48% in value and -7.75% in quantity.
Of particular interest is the evolution of the average price per tonne of ceramics and marbles which, despite fluctuations, have remained marginally stable over the last decade. On the other hand, the average price per tonne of granite has decreased, reaching a level in 2022 that is lower than that of ceramics.
It is clear from the statistics that ceramics are gaining ground in the US market. The rise of marble shows that it is a material that has been and remains consistently high in the preferences of Americans. However, the low growth rate and the decline in the average price per ton of granite should be of concern to the entire natural stone industry because, in the US, in addition to ceramics, there has been a large increase in imports of lumber for flooring.
If you are interested in learning more about US marble, granite, and ceramics imports, please, contact us about our available statistics and studies at: [email protected]
