(Mar. 29) – According to data released by the Office of the International Marbles and Machines Carrara, that has been compiling ISTAT statistics, during 2011 the northern Tuscany exported over 1.554.000 tons of marble, granite and other stones, raw or worked (including granules and powders), for a total of 541 million euros, a drop of -7.3% compared to 2010 but with an increase in value of +6.8%. In particular exports to the North African area are decreasing, a region among the major importing markets of marble blocks and slabs, right after China. In 2011 China remained in the first place with an import of 214.464 tons of marble and granite for a value of more than 50 million euros, followed by Algeria (126.000 tons, over 19 million euros), India (93.000 tons, 32.6 million euros) and Tunisia (84.700 tons, 8.5 million euros). The United States are still the most important customer of the Tuscan companies, with nearly 76.000 tons for a 107.616.000 euros value. China has maintained unchanged its imports, with 214.000 tons, worth over 50 million euros, up by 7.6% and a consequent increase in the average value, which was 234 euros per ton in 2011. (Ram/Peg)
