São Paulo – Brazil obtained USD 643 million in revenue from exports of ornamental stones in the first half of this year, a 10.92% increase over the same period last year, according to data from the Brazilian Ornamental Stone Exporters Center (Centrorochas). The institution predicts the sector to close 2022 with USD 1.4 billion in foreign revenue.
“The construction boom worldwide, the development of unprecedented actions for the stone industry through the sectorial agreement, and even investments by companies in the segment in their plants probably have contributed to this evolution,” said the president of Centrorochas Tales Machado, in a release.
Last year, Centrorochas signed a partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) to promote national stones abroad through the It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone project, which supports 148 companies. Machado said this year’s exports could have been even better if it weren’t for Russia’s war with Ukraine. Russia was one of the countries chosen for actions in the sectoral project with ApexBrasil.
The United States was the leading destination for Brazilian products in the year’s first half, representing 57% of national exports. The Mexican market came second, with a 5% share, and the United Kingdom was third, with 3%. Including the raw inputs exported, China was the biggest market for rock blocks, with 60% of the total, and Italy came second, with 29% of purchases.
Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro
