Thousands of kilometers separate Brazil from the United States, but, at the same time, the two countries have something in common that has kept them together for decades: the trade of natural stones. From April 05 to 08, 72 Brazilian exporters of products such as quartzite, marble and granite will be at Coverings 2022, the largest and more traditional U.S. fair of the cladding industry, which will take place in Las Vegas.
During the four days of the event, the visitors will have access to the Brazilian Pavilion, which will host small-, medium- and large-sized companies in a total area of 3,456 square meters (around 32,000 sq. ft.). Brazilian companies will gather in the space equivalent to about seven semi-Olympic pools. They will rely on subsidies by It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone, a program to promote natural stone exports developed by the Brazilian Center of Natural Stone Exporters (Centrorochas) in partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil).
Centrorochas’ president, Tales Machado, says the moment is positive for exports given the increase registered in 2021. According to data collected by the organization, last year Brazilian exports totaled 1.34 billion dollars, increasing by 35.5% in relation to 2020. “We are the largest and most important supplier of slabs to the USA and we want to become the main partner in large projects and in the supply of finished products: we have the quality, diversity and competence for that to happen,” he pointed out. The United States leads as the largest consumer of Brazilian natural stones, accounting for 62.7% of all our exports. China (11.5%) and Italy (6.5%) hold the following places.
Traditionally, the U.S. market comes into the forefront in the consumption of slabs and finished products, using Brazilian stones in projects of several sizes. It’s Natural’s manager, Rogério Ribeiro, explains the mutual interest between the two economies. “The Brazilian entrepreneurs are looking forward to going back to the United States since the fair did not happen in 2020 and since we only had an institutional booth in 2021, given the restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Brazil has a lot to offer. The country is a world leader in geological diversity and has more than 1,200 varieties of products,” he explains.
Applied Brazilian stones
With one of the most incredible, awe-inspiring views of Manhattan, a penthouse valued at more than USD 39,500,000 was clad in Copacabana granite, an exotic natural stone mined in the countryside of the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil. The material was supplied by Super Clássico Natural Stone, one of the companies participating in the Brazilian Pavilion at Coverings 2022.
The brands Altivo Pedras, Amagran, Andrade, Angramar, Art Sul, Bramagran, Brasigran, Brothers in Granite, Brumagran, Cajugran, Calvi Granitos, Capital Granite, Coex, Costa Granitos, CS3, Decolores, Diamond, Elite Stones, Emerick Stones, Ferraz Brasil, Fortuna Granitos, Gramazini, Gramil, Grandall Granitos, Granex do Brasil, Granibras, Granipex, Graniti, Granitos Collodetti, Granos Granitos, Gransena, Igramar, Imarf, Imetame, Internacionale, Itinga Mining Group, Laka Granitos, Levantina, Luchoa, Magban, Magnitos Magnago, Mameri Rochas, Maqstone, Marcel, Margramar, MG2 Granitos, Micapel Slate, Michelângelo, Milanezi Granitos, Mineração Borchardt, Mineração Granduvale, Mineral Stone, Monte Negro, Naturale Granitos, Nova Aurora, Nova Stone, Pedra do Frade, Pemagran, Pettrus, Poliex, PR Grupo Paraná, Qualitá Group, Quartzblue, S&J Mineração, Santo Antonio, Stone Palace, Stone Hill, Testi do Brasil, Thor, Toledo Mineração, Vitoria Stone and Yellow Stone participate in Coverings 2022, with the support of It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone.
About It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone
It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone is a program to promote exports developed by the Brazilian Center of Natural Stone Exporters (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 efforts with actions to promote, strengthen the image and develop the sector in the global market.
About Centrorochas
The Brazilian Center of Natural Stone Exporters is present in all national demands to increase the competitiveness of the natural stone industry. The organization works directly providing support for the procedures related to the presence of Brazilian entrepreneurs abroad, combined with sales and operational activities for the development and improvement of Brazilian companies.
About ApexBrasil
ApexBrasil works to promote Brazilian products and services abroad and to attract foreign investment into strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy. To reach these goals, the Agency carries out diverse trade promotion actions that aim to promote exports and to value Brazilian products and services abroad, such as prospective and trade missions, business networking meetings, support for the participation of Brazilian companies in major international trade fairs, and visits from foreign buyers and opinion formers to get to know the Brazilian manufacturing structure, among other business platforms that also aim to strengthen the Brazil brand.
Featured photo: At the top of a 78-story skyscraper, with one of the most privileged views of New York City, is Copacabana, an exotic natural stone mined in the countryside of the state of Minas Gerais and supplied by Super Clássico Natural Stone.
