With a reduction in the growth rate, the stone sector expects to maintain the leap taken in 2021

With less than a month left for the end of 2022, the Brazilian ornamental stone sector registered, in the accumulated until November, a reduction of 0.66% in the growth rate. During this period, Brazil exported US$1.215 billion. The data was released by the Brazilian Center for Ornamental Stones Exporters (Centrorochas), which reaffirms its expectation of concluding 2022 with revenues very close to last year’s, around US$1.34 billion.

The sector started the year in a positive way. Still in the first semester, it registered an evolution of almost 11% in relation to the previous year. Then, still in September, it reached the mark of 1 billion dollars in revenue from exports, anticipating the value recorded in 2021 by one month. In October and November, however, there was a drop of more than 20% in revenue.

“The closing of the year totally depends on the behavior of the market in the last month. We are optimistic and our expectation is to reach at least the same annual revenue as in 2021, but if December repeats the downward movement registered in October and November, the indication is of an annual drop of 3% compared to 2021. There are many challenges: logistical complexity, high cost of sea freight, main customers with stocked stock and, of course, competition with artificial materials, but we are an optimistic and resilient sector. We have sought to expand markets and new ways to serve traditional markets”, declares the president of Centrorochas, Tales Machado.

The leader of the national entity also points out that Brazilian products have been losing competitiveness due to the difference in the values of maritime freight practiced in Brazil, compared to other countries. The Brazilian Center of Ornamental Stones Exporters also points out other relevant factors for the current scenario, such as stock volumes in the deposits of the main importers of national stones and the allocation of resources for the acquisition of Indian synthetic products due to the surcharge applied by the United States about these products. “The introduction of this charge led to the acquisition of extra volumes before the entry into force of the aforementioned taxation”, details Tales.

More international actions

The United States, China and Italy were the main destinations for Brazilian dimension stones in 2022, representing respectively 58%, 13% and 8% of total exports. Several actions aimed at the foreign market are scheduled for 2023, through It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone, a project to promote Brazilian stones in the international market.

The program, carried out by Centrorochas, in partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) is in the contractual renewal phase and foresees actions in eight main markets (Australia, China, United States, United Arab Emirates, India, Italy and Mexico) and four secondary ones (Germany, United Kingdom, Turkey and Vietnam).

“In addition to direct actions in these markets, such as participation in fairs, lectures, market studies, among others, at the beginning of the year we will start a project aimed at analyzing the life cycle of Brazilian ornamental rock. Sustainability is an issue on the international agenda and we cannot waste any more time”, concludes Tales Machado.