Less than a month to go until the end of 2022, the Brazilian ornamental stones sector registered, in the accumulated until November, a reduction of 0.66% in the growth rate. In this period, Brazil exported 1.215 billion dollars. The data was released by the Brazilian Center of Natural Stones Exporters (Centrorochas), which reaffirms its expectation to finish 2022 with a turnover very close to the one registered last year, around 1.34 billion dollars.
The sector started the year in a positive way. Still in the first half of the year, 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 revenues from exports, anticipating by one month the value registered in 2021. In October and November, however, there was a decrease of more than 20% in sales.
“The closing of the year totally depends on the market’s behavior last month. We are optimistic and our expectation is to reach, at least, the same annual revenue of 2021, but if December repeats the downward movement registered in October and November, the indication is of an annual decrease of 3% in relation to the year 2021. There are many challenges: logistical complexity, high cost of sea freight, main customers with stock and, of course, competition with artificial materials, but we are an optimistic and resilient sector. We have been seeking the expansion of 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 maritime freight values practiced in Brazil, compared to other countries. The Brazilian Center of Natural Stones Exporters also points out other relevant factors for the current scenario, such as the volumes in stock in the warehouses of the main importers of national stones and the destination of resources for the acquisition of Indian synthetic products due to the surcharge applied by the United States on these products. “The introduction of this surcharge led to extra volumes being purchased before the surcharge went into effect”, Tales explains.
More International Actions
The United States, China and Italy were the main destinations for Brazilian ornamental stones in 2022, representing respectively 58%, 13% and 8% of the total exports. Several actions aimed at the foreign market are planned for 2023, through It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone, a project to promote Brazilian stones in the international market.
The program, run by Centrorochas, in partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) is in the contract renewal phase and foresees actions in eight main markets (Australia, China, United States, Arab Emirates, India, Italy and Mexico) and four secondary markets (Germany, United Kingdom, Turkey and Vietnam).
“Besides direct actions in these markets, such as participation in fairs, lectures, market studies, among others, in the beginning of the year we will start a project focused on the life cycle analysis of the Brazilian ornamental stone. Sustainability is a subject that is present in the international agenda, and we can’t afford to waste any more time”, concludes Tales Machado.
