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TRANSCRIPT
00:18
Hi, I’m K. Schipper with the latest in hard surfaces industry news from Radio Stone Update.
00:28
There’s good news for the hard surfaces industry. December 2024 import figures from the federal government show U.S. imports reached almost $5 billion last year. Leading the pack were strong gains in quartz-surfaces and the “Other Stone” sector.
Figures provided by Hard-Surface Report show last year’s final tally of natural stone, quartz surfaces and porcelain at $4.98 billion in customs value. That’s a 7% increase from 2023.
The biggest percentage increase last year came from the Other Stone sector, which includes quartzite. That number grew by 19.7% from 2023, with $553.3 million in value. Brazil led all countries in shipments with its $368.5 million, showing an impressive 41% increase from 2023.
Quartz surfaces led all other sectors in value, with $1.6 billion in imports – a 13.9% year-over-year gain. India led the way with imports coming into U.S. ports-of-entry with that popular material. It shipped $467.6 million to this country, easily surpassing 2023’s total of $333.4 million.
Porcelain’s increase was more modest – coming in at $1.2 billion. That’s a mere 1.8% increase from 2023. Granite, the only sector to finish below 2023 shipments, dropped by a very small 0.4% to $5.21 million last year.
Imports in the hard surfaces industry were the third-largest on record, behind 2021 and 2022. Both those years topped $5 billion. For an in-depth report, check out the next issue of Stone Update Magazine, which will be available late next month.
03:37
St. Cloud, Minn.-based Park Industries announces the Park Industries Fabricator Exchange™, or FabX, will be held May 1 in conjunction with Coverings 2025 in Orlando, Fla.
FabX is designed to allow stone fabricators to connect, learn and grow together. Building on Park’s annual Digital Stoneworking Expo™, Fab-X creates a fabricator-to-fabricator experience focused on enhancing skills, overcoming real-world challenges and advancing industry knowledge.
The event includes both hands-on education with shop tours and workshops where it will be possible to see Park machines in action while allowing participants to build new connections within the industry.
Activities actually begin April 29 with an open house for fabricators co-hosted with Cosentino at the Orlando Cosentino City Center.
The following day, April 30, a welcome reception is scheduled to allow attendees to meet the Park team, speakers and sponsor partners while enjoying good food and drink courtesy of Park Industries.
The agenda on Thursday, May 1, will feature speaker/fabricators who have grown into leaders in their market. As part of the program, shop tours of Counter Effects by Roger and Florida Central Cabinet Supply are scheduled.
Another guest speaker will be Joseph L. Sine, a partner at Cohen Seglias, who will tell participants how to handle silica safety and OSHA inspections at their shops.
Space is limited and registration for FabX is required. Go to www.parkindustries.com/event/fabricator-exchange.
05:20
When the renamed and relocated Marmomac Brazil convened in Sao Paulo last week, a day of negotiations connected 22 Brazilian companies with buyers from eight countries.
Called the Round of Negotiations, the sessions were a project of “It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone,” which was developed by the Brazilian Natural Stone Association (Centrorochas) in partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrazil).
Overall, 264 meetings were scheduled, connecting 14 international buyers from countries including Canada, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States with 22 Brazilian companies.
The sessions were designed to build on Brazil’s 2024 success in the natural stone market. The sector saw $1.26 billion in sales in 2024, an increase of 12.7% from 2023. Some 82.3% of that figure comes from the stone-producing state of Espirito (Es-PIER-a-toe) Santo.
Tales Machado, president of Centrorochas, says the organization was very excited about holding the negotiations as Marmomac debuted in Sao Paulo.
“This action is part of a solid strategy for international insertion, creating opportunities for Brazilian natural stone companies to stay connected with target markets, strengthen global partnerships and establish Brazil as a point of reference when it comes to quality, diversity of materials and innovation in the industry,” Machado said.
06:58
When the Xiamen International Stone Fair opens for its 25th time in Xiamen, China, on March 16, attendees will find plenty of reasons this has become the world’s largest stone event.
The more than 150,000 people expected to attend will find a mix of exhibits, displays and education events sure to inspire the industry. Among the highlights of this year’s event include:
*Xiamen Habitat Design and Life Festival, which explores eight habitat spaces by top designers meant to convey the concept of ideal living, promote industrial development through design and enhance the aesthetics of urban life;
*Stone Infinite Product Design Show, which showcases the creative understanding of natural stone in eight design spaces by eight different designers;
*Design Forums, where speakers will explore the dynamic market trends of the stone industry, as well as inspire innovative applications of stone in design, and;
*Launch Out at Xiamen, four separate sessions featuring the release of new products at the show, including new quarry products, tools and machinery, and chemicals and care products.
The show is scheduled for March 16-19 at the Xiamen International Conference and Exhibition Center. For more information, go to info@stonefair.org.cn.
08:19
M S International, Inc. (MSI) is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025.
Manu and Rika Shah founded MSI in the basement of their home in Ft. Wayne, Ind. Initially, the company imported blocks of granite to the natural stone industry on a part time basis.
Nine years later, the couple moved their operation to Southern California and began to grow MSI full time. Today, the Orange, Calif.-based company operates 50 branch locations, a company-owned truck fleet and services most of North America in 48 hours or less.
Over the years, the company has expanded its inventory well beyond natural stone. Today, it offers flooring, quartz, wall tile, hardscaping, turf and more. Many of them are in-house brands, including Q™ Premium Quartz, Rockmount™ Stacked Stone Panels and Arterra® Porcelain Pavers.
Both Q Premium Natural Quartz and Premium LVT are produced at MSI facilities in the United States, although the company also imports products from more than 37 countries on every continent except Antarctica.
Today, MSI remains family-owned. With more than 3,000 employees, family continues to be one of the most important pillars of the company.
In observing this important anniversary, Manu Shah, CEO-Emeritus says, “This milestone is a testament to the resilience, hard work and shared vision of every individual who has been part of this incredible journey. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone at MSI for their contributions and commitment to our dream.”
09:23
Austin, Texas-based Vadara Quartz Surfaces, announces it is going international with an expansion into the United Kingdom.
The manufacturer of artisan handcrafted quartz surfaces has entered into a distribution partnership with The Thomas Group and its brand, The Surface Collection. The Thomas Group has served the UK since 1946.
With two state-of-the-art plants and 34 production lines, Vadara has built a reputation for innovative designs, streamlined operations and keen insight into local customer preferences.
“With a focus on meeting unique tastes, budgets and lifestyles of our customers worldwide, Vadara is ready to expand its footprint and continue its growth internationally,” says Eric Butler, chief operating officer at US Surfaces, Vadara’s parent company.
Vadara and The Thomas Group share a mutual goal of bringing premium handcrafted quartz products, curated color palettes and a diverse range of pricing options to the UK.
Additionally, The Thomas Group’s logistical prowess is an asset that is well-suited to support Vadara’s vertically integrated supply chain. Other areas under consideration for expansion include Europe, Southeast Asia and South America.
10:40
Orlando, Fla.-based Affordable Granite Concepts announces that it has merged with Ally Building Solutions.
Affordable Granite Concepts, in business since 2011, is a countertop fabrication provider specializing in high-quality countertops.
Ally has four Florida outlets, including Orlando, as well as Jacksonville, Tampa and Fort Myers. It provides residential, multifamily and commercial builders with comprehensive building products and services, including flooring, cabinetry, countertops, appliances, shelving, kitchen and bathroom finishes and more.
“The acquisition is part of Ally’s strategic growth plan allowing us to expand our expertise, resources and service offerings for all our customers,” says Ally Building Solutions CEO Steve Spade. “Our goal is to strengthen our business and create great new opportunities for all employees and customers.”
11:40
And the New Zealand government is looking for more comments on engineered stone. The Workplace Relations and Safety Consultation is still hoping to hear from businesses, workers in the industry and people working with other materials that contain crystalline silica.
Brooke van Velden, the government minister that deals with labor issues, says she wants to understand what is currently being done to manage the risks and whether additional regulation is needed. The consultation is looking at a full range of possible regulatory responses, from strengthening current regulations to following the lead of Australia and implementing a full ban.
As with other parts of the world, engineered stone is a popular material in kitchens and bathrooms. However, the dust generated from cutting, grinding and polishing contains crystalline silica which can lead to silicosis, often with just a few years of exposure.
Van Velden says she’s been encouraged by the volume and quality of submissions the consultation has received, but she’d like to hear more, especially from other industries where crystalline silica is generated.
“Like the broader health and safety system, I need to balance the safety of workers with ensuring any regulatory changes are proportionate and effective at managing the risks,” van Velden said. The deadline for comments is March 18.
13:02
Remember, our electronic newsletter, Slab & Sheet, comes out on alternate Wednesdays. For a transcript of this broadcast, go to www.radiostoneupdate.com. For Radio Stone Update, I’m K. Schipper and we’ll see you here again soon.
