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TRANSCRIPT
00:19
Hi, I’m K. Schipper with the latest in hard surfaces industry news from Radio Stone Update.
00:28
In news out of Washington, U.S. tile manufacturers and the United States International Trade Commission – the USITC – agreed there needs to be an unfair-trade tariff on ceramic tile from India. It’s the final amount that likely shocked a manufacturers’ consortium that petitioned the agency 13 months ago.
Rather than taking the order lying down, however, last Friday the Coalition for Fair Trade in Ceramic Tile – the CFTCT – filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of International Trade, challenging the federal Department of Commerce’s review of import data from two large Indian tile companies.
Commerce’s International Trade Administration – the ITA – found no below-market U.S. sales and relatively low subsidies by the Indian government for manufacturing and shipping. The result is that rather than the 400% to 800% sought by the tile manufacturers, the USITC voted 3-0 on May 19 to set tariffs for most Indian tile manufacturers at 3.18%.
“Frankly, we are sympathetic to the challenges Commerce investigators faced in evaluating Indian exporters of ceramic tile, as we will later detail, with those challenges impacting the investigation,” says Eric Astrachan, executive director of the Tile Council of North America – the TCNA — who fills the same role with the CFTCT.
Andrew Whitmire, trade-data analyst for the TCNA, said the prices he’s tracked on imports from India “defy credulity” and can be injurious to both American ceramic tile manufactures and the thousands of families that rely on their jobs.
A report on the views of the commission and information developed during the investigation will be available June 30 on the USITC website.
03:32
LOTTE Chemical has announced that EKO Stone will distribute its Radianz® Quartz in the Midwest. EKO Stone is based in Des Plaines, Ill., and is strategically placed to distribute and promote the full range of Radianz products.
Through the collaboration, Radianz Quartz should see reduced lead times and seamless distribution to all its customers, including designers, architects and homeowners. Radianz Quartz is utilized on walls and floors, as well as countertops. It’s non-porous, easy to maintain and scratch resistant.
LOTTE Chemical is a global leader in manufacturing high-quality chemical products, including engineered quartz surfaces. LOTTE is committed to sustainability and innovation. EKO Stone is a distributor of premium quartz products across the United States, and is known for its integrity, reliability and exceptional customer service.
04:24
When LX Hausys America introduced new quartz and solid-surface designs earlier this month in Atlanta, the company’s goal was to really score with customers – by scheduling a special event for more than 250 guests to Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Highlighting the event was the debut of Taj Duna a VIATERA Quartzite Collection color inspired by the elegance of the Taj Mahal, and Cloud Ridge, an enhanced VIATERA Suprema Collection color inspired by the serenity of cloud-covered mountain landscapes.
Both new products feature NeoQ™ technology, LX Hausys’ low silica innovation that uses up to 90 percent recycled materials.
In addition to viewing large-format slabs of the new VIATERA quartz colors, fabricators and designers attending what was billed as a Stadium Showcase had the opportunity to explore other LX Hausys products.
The event opened with remarks from LX Hausys America President S.K. Lee, and a message from former Atlanta Falcons player Derek Rackley. Guests also heard a hospitality trend report from Martha Wakelin, creative director at the company.
Following a complimentary lunch, attendees also had the opportunity to take part in a VIP tour of the stadium, which opened in downtown Atlanta in 2017. Mercedes-Benz Stadium was the first professional sports stadium in North America to receive LEED Platinum certification.
LX Hausys America officials hope to host Stadium Showcase events in other markets in the future.
05:57
When almost 100 players gathered online for the first ever “All in for Natural Stone Poker Tournament” back in November, there were several winners.
Not only did everyone at the final table go home with a gift card, but sponsors and participants contributed to two organizations close to the hearts of those in the industry: The Natural Stone Foundation (NSF) and the Gary Sinise Foundation.
The brainchild of Jonathan Zanger, a former Marble Institute of America president, current NSF board member and enthusiastic poker player, Zanger pronounced himself pleased with the initial effort, especially since organizers didn’t really begin to work on the tournament until late last summer.
Zanger was especially complimentary of the event’s sponsors, both the Gold Level sponsors and those who provided the gift cards the participants in the final table – plus the so-called bubble boy – went home with based on their success.
The event raised about $40,000 and all of the proceeds went 75 percent to the Natural Stone Foundation and 25 percent to the Gary Sinise Foundation.
While the overall winner was a New York poker player, Zanger felt members of the industry did well. Six players with ties to the industry were at the final table, and he especially singled out Katie Jensen, the immediate past president of the Natural Stone Institute.
Says Zanger, “This was her first poker tournament. We had a wide variety of people who played, and they had a great time.”
The event was so successful that Zanger is planning on a second annual event, which has tentatively been set for Nov. 6. He expects to double or triple participation for that event.
07:38
It’s been a good year for It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone. The export promotion program outdid itself in Xiamen, China, back in March, and now reports impressive results that exceeded expectations at Coverings 2025.
Following the four-day event in Orlando, program officials report the country projects more than $90 million in business deals over the next 12 months, with more than $27 million of that coming in immediate business.
That’s more than 50 percent greater than initially estimated.
For Coverings, the program’s Brazilian Pavilion covered almost 11,000 ft2, and featured 57 exhibiting companies from six Brazilian states. Four of the exhibiting companies were making their debut at the fair.
At the opening ceremony for the pavilion, the president of Centrorochas, Tales Machado, highlighted Brazil’s strong presence at Coverings 2025 and stressed the importance of the partnership with ApexBrasil, which has enabled the participation of dozens of companies at international events and promotes the image of the Brazilian stone industry abroad.
More than 50 percent of Brazil’s stone exports come to the United States.
In other news from around the industry…
08:55
The International Surface Event – TISE — announces the expansion of the “StartUp Station” Pavilion, which is designed to offer emerging businesses an exclusive opportunity to gain resources and be featured at the event.
In 2026, the “StartUp Station” Pavilion will offer complimentary turnkey exhibit spaces to eight qualifying companies in the floor covering, stone and tile industries. The spaces are awarded through a competitive application process.
Eligible companies are ones that have been operating within the industry for two years or less and have not yet exhibited at TISE.
Those selected will also receive a marketing package that includes press release inclusion promoting them; highlights on the floor plan and online directory; social media highlights, and; enhanced online listing with lead generation.
TISE 2026 is scheduled from Jan. 27-29 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. More than 700 brands from around the globe are expected to exhibit. For more information on the event, visit www.intlsurfaceevent.com
10:03
Looking for an extra reason to attend this year’s Hardscape North America? From May 23 through Aug. 29, those registering for HNA will be included in a sweepstakes where each week a registrant will take home a $100 gift card just for signing up to attend.
Early bird registration for the premier trade show for hardscape and landscape professionals is just $25 through May 31. Prior registrants will be included in each week’s drawing. After May 31, HNA registration is $30 until Sept. 4, when the price goes up to $60. Onsite registration will be $120.
Hardscape North America will take place Oct. 22-24 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky. HNA is produced by the Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association and endorsed by the Natural Stone Institute and the Brick Industry Association.
For more information and to register, go to www.hardscapeNA.com.
11:07
M S International, Inc. – MSI — has once again been recognized as a top place to work. The supplier of flooring, countertops, wall tile and hardscaping products has been recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Gen Z in 2025.
The list of winners recognizes workplaces that are creating an inclusive, welcoming environment for those entering the workforce. Those companies are excelling in areas such as community, work-life- balance, training/career progression, and positive corporate culture — areas that matter most to Gen Z.
Founded in 1975, MSI maintains 50 state-of-the-art showrooms and distribution centers in the United States and Canada that feature an extensive offering of quartz, LVT, tile, natural stone, porcelain and turf products.
12:01
And,the National Kitchen & Bath Association – NKBA — has announced it is forming a strategic alliance with the High Point Market Authority – the HPMA. The partnership is seen as a convergence of the kitchen and bath sector with the furnishings industry.
NKBA is the owner and producer of the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show – KBIS — while High Point is the sponsor and organizer of the High Point Market, the world’s largest home furnishings trade show, which is held every April and October in High Point, N.C.
“Our partnership with High Point Market Authority represents a powerful alignment between two organizations committed to inspiring, empowering and supporting the interior design community,” says Bill Darcy, global president and CEO of NKBA | KBIS.
Tammy Covington, president and CEO of High Point Market Authority says the conversations that begin at her biannual show lay the groundwork for the years ahead.
The NKBA’s first presence at High Point Market was in 2018, when they offered members a day-and-a-half-long event blending market tours with conference-style education. Together they offer unique education programs, inspire innovation and deliver on the goal to ensure support for the design community throughout the whole home.
13:23
Look for the May/June issue of Stone Update Magazine next week at www.stonemag.com. For a transcript of this broadcast, go to www.radiostoneupdate.com. I’m K. Schipper for Radio Stone Update and we’ll see you here again soon.
