Marble - is a metamorphic rock consisting primarily of calcite and dolomite. It is formed by metamorphism of limestone that is crystallized. Usually, it is of white to gray color, often with irregular-colored marks due to the presence of impurities such as silica and clay. It ranges from granular to compact texture, that can take a high polish. It is used especially in architecture, construction, and sculpture, as a building material.
Granite – is a coarse-grained igneous rock composed mostly of quartz and feldspars in varying proportions. It forms from magma with a high content of silica and metal oxides that slowly solidifies underground. Granite hardness firmness and durability properties have made it as most recognized and used construction building material around the globe.
Travertine - is a sedimentary rock that is formed from the redeposition of calcium carbonate minerals formed at hot springs and limestone caves.
Rising demands for construction & infrastructure industries are the driving factor for the growth of the Marble and Granite markets. The Marble & Granite industries had been impacted by the outbreak of COVID-19 as most of the quarries, production & processing facilities where located in the countries affected by the virus outbreak. Initial disruption affected all supply chains due to low demands from construction industries. Temporary postponement in construction activities in 2020 bounced back with increased demands in 2021, despite the logistics and supply chain disruptions. This happened in thanks to the measures implemented by various governments to stimulate local economies.
Marble, Granite, Travertine Extraction & Processing:
Mining of marble, granite, travertine is made by quarrying and cutting, which take place along or across the strains of the deposits. The final look of material is determined during cutting phase. Marble, cutting is done by drills & diamond cables. Travertine and is extracted by cutting by use of channeling machines with various drills in order to separate rocks. Water-jet, chain and wire saws are also widely used in the rocks extraction phases. Extracted rocks are then cut into individual slabs or blocks for further processing and/or transportation. Depending on final usage intent and functionality, the blocks or slabs go through additional processing to semi-finished products.
Marble, Granite, Travertine Market Segmentation:
Marble, Granite quarries are widely available across the world. Main largest quarry industries are in Italy, India, Turkey, Norway, Spain, and Brazil. However, the market is highly fragmented depending on type and qualities of Marble, Granite & Stone in each country. Due to the availability of many quarries around the world, the cost of transportation and logistics are minimized. However, they play an important factor within cross-border export/import. When it comes to specific types and qualities of materials and its significant variation in prices from region to region. Granite is mostly used in the construction of residential and commercial infrastructure, as direct substitute of marble at a comparatively lower price. Granite is comparably lightweight material and easy to process (cut, sculpt, carve) whereas marble is heavy and harder to be processed making it more expensive. Thus, the availability of alternative materials, such as granite or kaolin, are acting as a restraint to the growth of the natural marble market. Furthermore, possibilities of production of artificial marbles in any desired designs, colors and texture also replace the use of natural marbles making natural marbles more exclusive material. We can distinguish marble market segmentation by white, black, yellow, red, grey, pink, and red colour of marbles. White colored marbles are the widely used in the construction industry, which is forecasted to lead the market during the forecast period. Wide range of white marbles with different textures and patterns are commonly used in the construction of decorative, architectural infrastructures, sculptures, flooring, walls, columns, facades.
Market Opportunities:
Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market is expected to grow significantly next years to come. The fastest growing consumption markets are the USA, China, India, Japan, Canada, EU+UK. The Chinese & European region is the largest consumer of material in the building, construction and furniture production application area. This offers high growth opportunities for marbles, granite, and travertine in residential and commercial infrastructure developments.
Marble & Travertine Leadings Exporters (2019):
Turkey – 751 M€
Italy – 371 M€
Iran – 106 M€
Spain – 68 M€
Greece – 60 M€
2019 Global Export Value: 1.86 B€
Granite Leadings Exporters (2019):
India – 619 M€
Norway – 144 M€
Brazil – 75.2 M€
China – 56.4 M€
South Africa – 47 M€
2019 Global Export Value: 1.41 B€
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