A meeting promoted by Centrorochas and ApexBrasil will announce the launch of an international market study and discuss opportunities for the Brazilian slate segment.
Papagaios (in the state of Minas Gerais), one of the main producers of slate in Brazil, will host, between June 1 and 3, an event focused on expanding the international presence of the segment. Promoted by the Brazilian Natural Stone Association (Centrorochas), in partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), the program will include meetings with entrepreneurs, technical visits to companies in the region, and the announcement of the Market Study on Slate in France.
The initiative will be carried out within the scope of the sectoral project It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone and will focus on identifying opportunities for Brazilian slate in the French market. The country was chosen because it is one of the main consumer markets for natural slate in Europe and may potentially expand Brazil’s presence in the segment. Once completed, the content will be made available for free to companies participating in the program, which can also be joined for free.
“This rapprochement aims to develop an international program that is more connected to the specificities of the industry, expanding opportunities and strengthening the positioning of Brazilian slate in the international market,” said Thiago Fukuda, the manager of the sectoral project developed by Centrorochas.
The event will begin on June 1, during a meeting held with the support of Associação dos Mineradores e Beneficiadores de Ardósia (AMAR) [Association of Slate Miners and Manufacuturers] and Sindicato Intermunicipal da Indústria de Beneficiamento de Mármores, Granitos e Rochas Ornamentais no Estado de Minas Gerais (Sinrochas-MG) [Multicity Union of the Marble, Granite and Natural Stone Processing Industry in the State of Minas Gerais], bringing together representatives of the manufacturing sector, business leaders, and institutions linked to the natural stone chain.
On June 2 and 3, the program will continue with technical visits to manufacturing companies in the region. The proposal aims to deepen understanding of the reality of the region, strengthen relationships with the sector, and expand the participation of companies in the initiatives developed by the sectoral project It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone, which can be joined for free.
Study will be made available to supported companies free of charge
The official presentation of the Market Study on Slate in France will take place on July 8 at 3 p.m., during an exclusive online meeting for companies supported by the sectoral project It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone.
A Prospective Mission to France is also scheduled, between September 28 and October 2, with visits to the regions of Paris, Le Mans, Nantes, and Angers, local benchmarks in the use and sale of slate.
INFORMATION
Meeting with companies in the slate sector
📅 June 1, 2026
🕒 3 p.m.
📍 Papagaios (Minas Gerais, Brazil)
Presented by: AMAR, Centrorochas, and ApexBrasil
Institutional program
📅 June 2 and 3
Technical visits to manufacturing companies in the region
About It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone
It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone is an export promotion program developed by the Brazilian Natural Stone Association (Centrorochas) in partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil). The program aims to encourage and increase exports of Brazilian natural stones, through a set of strategic internationalization actions with initiatives geared towards promotion, strengthening of the image and development of the industry in the global market. Companies interested in being part of the project must visit https://podio.com/webforms/26378838/1995038 to register for free.
About Centrorochas
The Brazilian Natural Stone Association is active in all national demands to increase the competitiveness of the natural stone industry. The organization acts directly by providing support in the procedures related to the presence of Brazilian entrepreneurs abroad, along with commercial and operational activities for the development and evolution of Brazilian companies.
About ApexBrasil
The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) works to promote Brazilian products and services abroad and to attract foreign investment to strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy. To achieve these objectives, the Agency carries out several trade promotion activities aimed at promoting exports and valuing Brazilian products and services abroad. They include prospective and trade missions, rounds of negotiations, support for the participation of Brazilian companies in major international fairs, and visits of foreign buyers and opinion formers to learn about the Brazilian production structure, among other business platforms that also aim to strengthen the Brazil brand. The Agency also works in coordination with public and private actors to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) to Brazil, focusing on strategic sectors, aiming at the development of competitiveness of Brazilian companies and of the country.
