Granite and Marble Blocks and Slabs imports of European Union member countries in 2017

The 28 European Union member countries import large quantity of Granite and Marble Blocks and Slabs every year. Which of the two stone products did they import most and which were the leading importing countries?

Stonenews.eu, after studying the statistical results of the International Trade Centre and the National Statistical Institutes, is presenting the growth in granite and marble blocks and slabs imports of EU 28 countries between 2016 and 2017 as well as the shares in value and quantity of the above imports in 2017.

2017 was a year of decrease in quantity of granite and marble blocks and slabs imports of the EU member countries, contrary to value. More specifically, value of granite block and slabs imports increased slightly while a little bit higher was the rise of value in marble block and slabs imports.

The following table shows in brief the variation in value and quantity of imports between 2016 and 2017 as well as the shares in value and quantity in 2017.

As shown at the table above, in 2017, there was an increase in value of both granite and marble blocks and slabs imports for Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Austria, Cyprus, Denmark and Germany. On the other hand, there was a decrease in value of both sectors for Romania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Finland and France.

In addition, there was an increase in quantity of both granite and marble blocks and slabs imports for Lithuania, Slovakia, Sweden and Denmark, while there was a decrease in quantity of both sectors for Hungary, Italy, Romania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia and France.

In granite blocks and slabs import shares the countries that stand out are Italy (31.04%), United Kingdom (14.47%) and Spain (11.70%) while in marble blocks and slabs import shares the countries that stand out are Italy (49.74%), United Kingdom (12.31%) and Greece (11.18%).

*Statistic data are derived from the following HS Codes (Harmonized System Codes):

251611: Granite, crude or roughly trimmed (excluding 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 (excluding already with the characteristics of setts, curbstones and flagstones).

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.

251520: Ecaussine and other calcareous monumental or building stone of an apparent specific gravity of >= 2,5, and alabaster, whether or not roughly trimmed or merely cut, by sawing or otherwise, into blocks or slabs of a square or rectangular shape (excluding in the form of granules, chippings or powder, and marble and travertine).