(Mar. 23) – During 2011, Italy exported more than four million tons of marble, granite, travertine and other stones, raw or processed, granulated and powders, with a decrease of -3.22%, for a total value of over 1.6 billion, and with an increase of the overall value of +4.26%. These are the figures released by the Internazionale Marmi and Macchine Carrara, through its Research Department, which has been compiling ISTAT statistics for the 2011. Italian sector exports suffered the political situation in North Africa, particularly in Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, while exports to Algeria and Morocco increased both in quantity and value, representing the 53% of stone export to the whole African area. Saudi Arabia deserves a special mention: thanks to the rising price of oil, the country has bought Italian marble and granite for 161,893 tons (+28.9%) and for an equivalent of almost 70 million euros (+41.45%). (Ram/Peg)
