Brazilian Natural Stone Sector in Bilateral Mobilization: Week Marked by Meetings in Espírito Santo, Brasília, and Official Agenda at the Embassy in Washington Against Tariff Hike

OFFICIAL STATEMENT

Vitória-ES, July 28, 2025

Brazilian Natural Stone Sector in Bilateral Mobilization: Week Marked by Meetings in Espírito Santo, Brasília, and Official Agenda at the Embassy in Washington Against Tariff Hike

With estimated losses of US$ 40 million in July alone, the Brazilian natural stone sector is intensifying national and international mobilization against tariffs imposed by the United States. The week will be marked by strategic actions in Espírito Santo, the largest exporting state in the country, as well as official meetings in Brasília and at the Brazilian Embassy in Washington.

As part of the actions of the committee created to monitor and assess the impacts of the economic tariffs imposed by the United States on Brazil, the Government of Espírito Santo will hold a meeting on Monday (07/28) with representatives of the natural stone sector. The agenda, which will include leaders from the Brazilian Natural Stone Association (Centrorochas) and the Espírito Santo Union of Ornamental Stones, Lime, and Limestone Industries (Sindirochas), takes place in the same week the sector will also hold an official meeting at the Brazilian Embassy in Washington as part of the international mobilization against the 50% tariff applied to Brazilian exports.

In Espírito Santo

Coordinated by Espírito Santo’s Vice Governor, Ricardo Ferraço, the committee brings together representatives from various state secretariats and institutions. The initiative underscores the state government’s attention to the direct effects of the measure on Espírito Santo, which is responsible for 95% of Brazilian stone shipments to the United States.

According to Centrorochas, it is estimated that, in July alone, over 1,140 containers will not be shipped from Espírito Santo, representing a potential loss of approximately US$ 38 million in state exports. Nationally, projections indicate up to 1,200 containers suspended and US$ 40 million in losses.

During the meeting, Centrorochas is expected to present updates on ongoing negotiations with U.S. organizations such as the Natural Stone Institute (NSI) and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) – one of the largest U.S. trade associations, representing builders, developers, contractors, and companies in the construction supply chain – which have also expressed concern about the tariff’s impact on the U.S. construction industry.

In Brasília

Also on Monday, at the invitation of the Vice President of Brazil and Minister of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services, Geraldo Alckmin, Centrorochas will attend the signing ceremony of the “Acredita Exportação” Program Bill at the Palácio do Planalto. The event will be attended by the President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

In the United States

As a direct result of the international mobilization led by Centrorochas, next Friday (August 1), the association will participate in an institutional meeting at the Brazilian Embassy in Washington. The meeting, organized in partnership with the Natural Stone Institute (NSI), will mark the official delivery of a letter to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), highlighting the negative impacts of the tariff on U.S. housing construction costs.

The agenda will include the participation of the Brazilian Ambassador to Washington, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, members of the local press, strategic partners, and representatives from the two main U.S. entities involved in the negotiations: NSI and NAHB. The event was made possible by Centrorochas, with the support of Federal Deputy Evair de Melo and coordination through the Brazilian Ambassador to Canada, Carlos França.

Housing Costs in the U.S. Could Increase

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

According to the U.S. association, 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 report states.

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

• 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, sector exports totaled US$ 1.26 billion, a 12.7% increase over the previous year. The United States accounted for 56.3% of this total, remaining the main destination for Brazilian stone. In the first half of 2025 alone, the segment achieved a historic record, with US$ 426 million in sales to the U.S. market, up 24.6% compared to the same period in the previous year.

Centrorochas is the officially recognized national entity representing the 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.