Apr. 15 – Marble, granite, travertine and other Italian stones have had a good 2014, especially in terms of exports, thanks to the added value of the final products, which come from local materials. In 2014, the Italian stone industry exported 1.6 million tons of finished natural stone for a total value of €1.5 billion – for a 3% decline in volume compared to 2013 but with a + 0.5% increase in value. The target markets are mainly North America and Germany. The most valued exporter is the Apuan-Versilia district, which includes the provinces of Massa Carrara, Lucca, and Spezia: in 2014 it sent abroad processed materials for a total value of €481 million. The Veneto district (provinces of Verona, Padua, Vicenza) is second, with €475.4 million worth of exports.
