Centrorochas and ApexBrasil take ornamental stone companies on a trade mission to Mexico

The Brazilian Center of Natural Stones Exporters (Centrorochas) and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) will take 12 natural stone companies to Mexico on a trade mission that will take place on August 9 and 10. The action takes place through It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone, a program to promote exports of Brazilian natural stone. The initiative includes business rounds with local buyers and a seminar at the Brazilian embassy in the country.

Mexico is among the fifteen largest economies in the world and is the second largest economy in Latin America, behind Brazil. With 126 million inhabitants (2021 census), it has recorded good economic performance. According to the IMF, Mexico’s GDP grew by around 2.1% in 2022, mainly due to a gradual improvement in the labor market, which reduced the unemployment rate to 3.3% of the population and positively impacted household consumption. For 2023, the updated growth expectation according to Goldman Sachs stands at 1.8% of GDP at 2.1%.

When it comes to natural stone, exports have been increasing in importance every year. Mexico is currently the 4th main destination for Brazilian exports. In 2022, the country imported US$ 53 million from Brazil, registering a 4% growth over the previous year. In the first half of this year, while Brazilian exports of natural stone to the world decreased 13.4%, there was an 8.13% growth to Mexico, totaling US$ 26.9 million in revenue and a 4.9% share in the total of stone exported by Brazil. Granite is the material most consumed by Mexicans. It represents 77% of the total volume, followed by quartzites which have 20% participation in the mix imported by the country. 

Companies from Ceará, Espírito Santo and Rio Grande do Sul will participate in the action. They are: Angramar, Basalto São Cristóvão, Brumagran, Cajugram, Comil Cotaxé, Decolores, Granos, Magban, Marbrasa, Mineração Borchardt, Minete Pedras and Nova Aurora.

For the manager of Brazilian Natural Stone, Rogério Ribeiro, the mission is a good option to promote Brazilian stone in Mexico, one of the target countries of It’s Natural. “Expectations in this context are very positive, since exports to Mexico have been growing in recent years, which proves the assertiveness of the sectorial project, especially after a market study carried out last year”, he says.

Market Study

Mexico was the subject of a market study conducted by Centrorochas and ApexBrasil. During the presentation event, held in October last year, the economist responsible for the study, Marcelo Prado, managing partner of IEMI Market Intelligence, commented on the country’s openness to Brazilian stone. “The good receptivity and diversity of Brazilian stones guarantee a competitive advantage among competitors. With a strong reduction in local production, more than ever, Mexico needs imports to meet these demands. And this is an excellent opportunity for Brazilian stone exporters,” he said.

Access to the full document with the Mexico Study is exclusive to companies supported by It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone. The request must be made through the e-mail centro@centrorochas.org.br. Companies that are not yet supported by the sectorial project can request their free membership. In addition to access to all the opportunities of the program, at the conclusion of the membership process, you can receive the Mexico Study in full! The application process is 100% online, just complete the link and It’s Natural team will contact you to finalize the request: https://podio.com/webforms/26378838/1995038

About It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone

The It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone is an export incentive program developed by the Brazilian Center of Natural Stones Exporters (Centrorochas) in partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil). The program aims to stimulate and increase the exports of Brazilian natural stones, through a set of strategic actions for internationalization with promotional activities, strengthening the image and development of the sector in the market worldwide.

About Centrorochas

The Brazilian Center of Natural Stones Exporters acts directly on the procedures related to the presence of Brazilian businesspeople abroad combined with commercial and operational activities related to the development and evolution of Brazilian companies.

About ApexBrasil

ApexBrasil works to promote Brazilian products and services abroad and attract foreign investment to strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy. In order to achieve these objectives, the Agency carries out diversified trade promotion actions aiming at promoting exports and enhancing the value of Brazilian products and services abroad, such as prospective and trade missions, business rounds, supporting the participation of Brazilian companies in major international fairs, visits of foreign buyers and opinion leaders to be introduced to the Brazilian productive structure, among other business platforms that also aim at strengthening the Brazil brand.