Brazilian stone sector has the best 1st half of the last five years

Brazilian ornamental stone exports recorded the best first half of the last five years. From January to June 2021, the sector had revenues of US$ 572 million, against US$ 566 million listed in the same period in 2017. The data were released this week by the Brazilian Center of Ornamental Stones Exporters (Centrorochas), which, in At the end of May, it signed a sectorial agreement with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil) to promote Brazilian stones on the international market.

Considering the last three years, from the pre-pandemic period to the present day, the segment recorded an increase. In 2019, the year before the impacts caused by the global health crisis, Brazil ended the first half of the year with revenues of US$ 489 million. In 2020, at the height of all tension and market instability, revenue dropped to US$ 397 million. However, from January to June this year, still with restrictions, but with the economy showing signs of recovery, the sector registered an increase of almost 17% in revenues from exports.

United States, China and Italy were the three main consumers of Brazilian rocks in the first six months of this year. The American market primarily consumes manufactured rocks (slabs), while in the Chinese and Italian markets, rough rocks (blocks) are preferred.

Major exporting states

The Brazilian southeast region is responsible for 93% of national exports. Espírito Santo (82%) and Minas Gerais (11%) stand out among the largest exporting states, followed by Ceará (2%) and Bahia (1%).

In the last two years, considering revenues from exports in the first half, Ceará recorded a 35% increase in shipments of ornamental stones to the international market. In 2019, the state recorded revenue of US$ 10 million against US$ 14 million this year. In the same period, Espírito Santo, the largest producer and exporter and which has a more consolidated presence in the world market, saw its revenues rise 17% (it was US$ 399 million in 2019, against US$ 471 in 2021). Minas Gerais, on the other hand, accounted for a 15% increase (U$S 54 million in 2019 and US$ 63 million in 2021).

Expectation

According to the projections indicated in the sectoral agreement It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone, signed between Centrorochas and Apex-Brasil, the Brazilian stone sector expects to grow 4.2% this year, compared to last year. According to data from Secex (February/2021), the segment recorded US$ 987 million in revenues in 2020 and expects, based on projections, to close 2021 with an amount of US$ 1.029 billion.

About It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone

It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone is an export incentive program developed by the Brazilian Center for Ornamental Stones Exporters (Centrorochas) in partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil). This program aims to increase exports of Brazilian ornamental stones, through a set of strategic internationalization actions with promotion actions, strengthening the image and development of the sector in the world market.

About Centrorochas

The Centro Brasileiro dos Exportadores de Pedras Ornamentais acts directly in the procedures related to the presence of Brazilian businessmen abroad combined with commercial and operational activities related to the development and evolution of Brazilian companies.

About Apex-Brasil

Apex-Brasil acts to promote Brazilian products and services abroad and attract foreign investment to strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy. To achieve these goals, the Agency carries out diversified trade promotion actions aimed at promoting exports and valuing Brazilian products and services abroad, such as prospective and trade missions, business roundtables, support for the participation of Brazilian companies in major international fairs, visits of foreign buyers and opinion makers to get to know the Brazilian production structure, among other business platforms that also aim to strengthen the Brazil brand.