Brazilian Natural Stone Industry Seeks Support in the U.S. Capital to Halt 50% Tariff

Official statement 08/31/25

As part of the international mobilization against the 50% tariff imposed by the United States on Brazilian exports, representatives of the Brazilian natural stone industry will take part, this Friday (August 1), in an official agenda at the Brazilian Embassy in Washington. The initiative is led by the Brazilian Natural Stone Association (Centrorochas), in strategic partnership with the Natural Stone Institute (NSI).

During the meeting, there will be a symbolic delivery of a joint letter to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), one of the largest trade associations in the U.S., representing builders, developers, contractors, and companies across the construction supply chain. The document reinforces the negative impacts of the tariff measure on the Brazilian sector and its direct effects on construction costs in the United States. It also requests an extension of the negotiation period before the definitive enforcement of the tariff.

The event will bring together around 20 participants, including representatives from the Brazilian industry, Embassy members, local press guests, and leaders from partner U.S. associations. Confirmed participants in the business mission include Cosentino, Emerstones, Magban, Milanezi Granitos, and Santo Antonio, as well as the president of the National Association of Ceramic Tile Manufacturers (Anfacer), Maurício Borges.

The action in Washington is a direct outcome of the international negotiations initiated by Centrorochas since the tariff was announced on July 9 and represents another step in the diplomatic and institutional efforts carried out jointly with Sindirochas and supported by business and parliamentary leaders.

“The sector is united around a coordinated mobilization, with institutional dialogue in Brazil and abroad. Our goal is to mitigate the damage caused by this abrupt measure and preserve jobs, investments, and the international competitiveness of Brazilian stones,” emphasizes Tales Machado, president of Centrorochas.

U.S. Housing Costs Could Rise

As part of its engagement with U.S. associations, Centrorochas obtained access to a preliminary document prepared by NAHB. Although the report is not yet finalized, the data indicate that the average cost of building new homes in the U.S. could increase significantly.

According to the U.S. entity, in 2024 alone, approximately 7% of all products used in new multifamily and single-family residential construction were imported, totaling more than US$ 120 billion in construction and housing materials. “The cost of building materials has already risen by 41.6% in the five years since the pandemic, far outpacing the inflation rate (21.9%). The proposed tariffs on these products – including building materials, appliances, and finishes – are expected to disrupt supply chains and further increase housing costs for American families,” the draft document states.

The tariff measure is also a growing concern for several other reasons:

• 85% of the natural stone consumed in the U.S. is imported;
• Brazil is the leading supplier, accounting for 22.6% of imports, followed by Italy (19.1%);
• The most widely used countertop materials are of Brazilian origin;
• The U.S. lacks sufficient domestic production to meet demand;
• The tariff will affect more than 12,000 manufacturers, 500 distributors, and 200,000 jobs in the United States.

The Sector in Numbers

The Brazilian natural stone industry is responsible for approximately 480,000 direct and indirect jobs nationwide. In 2024, the sector’s exports totaled US$ 1.26 billion, representing a 12.7% increase compared to the previous year. Of this total, the United States accounted for 56.3%, remaining the main destination for Brazilian stones. In the first half of 2025 alone, the segment reached a historic record, with US$ 426 million in sales to the U.S. market, an increase of 24.6% compared to the same period the year before.

Centrorochas is the officially recognized national entity representing the Brazilian natural stone sector, supported by and with the voluntary membership of more than 230 Brazilian exporting companies, including members and institutionally supported firms. Its work is carried out in close collaboration with Sindirochas, the largest employers’ union in the sector in Brazil. The association also maintains active dialogue with international industry entities such as Confindustria Marmomacchine (Italy), Assimagra – Portuguese Association for the Mineral Resources Industry (Portugal), IMMIB – Istanbul Mineral Exporters’ Association (Turkey), and the Natural Stone Institute (NSI) in the United States.

The association reaffirms its commitment to defending the competitiveness, predictability, and international presence of Brazilian natural stones.