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DIMENSION STONE ADVOCATE NEWS
Issue No. 28 August 2007
General Outlook for 2006-07: Total U.S. dimension stone sales in 2006 were up 13% from 2005; see Overall Production-Demand Index below. Granite countertop sales in 2007 are likely to be up 5% over 2006, according to the observers, and granite and marble tile sales in 2007 are likely to be up significantly over 2006, especially for domestic marble tile aided by rising ocean freight costs for tile imports. The observers in the Detailed Outlook indicate that domestic monumental granite sales in 2007 are likely to be up 3% over 2006, and Indiana limestone sales in 2007 are likely to be up 2% over 2006. Slate sales in 2007 are likely to be down 2% from 2006, and sandstone sales in 2007 are likely to be up a few percent from 2006.
An examination of the major data components of the Overall Production-Demand Index for 2007 suggest much slower growth for 2007, perhaps only 4%-5%, comprising a loss in the granite categories and a significant gain in the marble and most other categories.
New readers of DSAN should also check the cover for “Early-Bird”, “Pulsetaking”, and “Late-Bird” Outlooks, and the large body of information built up in the back issues, Issues 1 to 27.
The Marble Institute of America has published a new Natural Stone Color Guide. The guide contains a series of high-quality color photos of 408 stones, 204 of granites, 148 of marbles, and the balance of travertine, limestone, and onyx, arranged by color. This for-sale publication has much better photos than the Architect's Stone Selection Helper, and should be utilized early in the selection process.
The August 2007 Consumer Reports has an update comparing stone countertops (granite, marble, and limestone) with those of other materials. The numerical ratings were identical to those of last year. Again, the two top-rated were granite and quartz, marble was in the lower middle, and limestone next to last.
Demand Growth Comparison for Dimension Stone: Interindustry, World
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Overall Dim. Stone Adj. |
108 |
116 |
135 |
170 |
190 |
Ceramic Tile |
94 |
106 |
111 |
123 |
130 |
The Overall Dimension Stone Adj. is the (U.S.) Overall Dimension Stone Production-Demand Index recalculated on a 2000=100 basis.
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GRANITE |
|||||
Median |
104 |
117 |
125 |
161 |
194 |
Average |
105 |
116 |
134 |
161 |
190 |
MARBLE |
|||||
Median |
111 |
147 |
193 |
237 |
293 |
Average |
101 |
112 |
122 |
144 |
165 |
This column has almost always discussed growth in demand for U.S. dimension stone over recent years; what about the rest of the world? One measure of the world demand for granite and marble (shown above) is the total finished granite or marble exported by some major exporting countries--Brazil, Italy, Spain, and China--for finished granite and Turkey, Italy, Spain, and China for finished marble. This measure shows the growth in demand since 2000 (2000=100). Using an interest table to obtain an average annual increase, world granite demand has risen almost 14% each year for the period 2000-2005, and world marble demand has risen about 10.5% each year in the same period. Thus world demand for dimension granite and marble has been behaving similarly to U.S. demand for similar items in the same time period; growing strongly.
Statistical Parameters: Sales related: The Overall Production-Demand Index was based on 100 for 1997, 221 for 2003, 277 for 2004, 312 for 2005, and 354 for 2006 (semifinal). The Demand Index for Granite Countertops was based on 100 in 1997, 452 in 2003, 715 in 2004, 867 in 2005, and 1081 in 2006 (final). The Demand Index for Granite and Marble Tile was based on 100 in 1997, 199 in 2003, 260 in 2004, 336 in 2005, and 414 in 2006 (final).