| Interview with MIA Vice President Gary Distelhorst. The U.S. stone industry is not immune to the global economic downturn. A spot survey of Marble Institute members suggests that nearly all of our member stone companies have experienced a dip in their business, which has forced most companies to tighten their belts. In fact, nearly three out of four members surveyed told us they have delayed capital investments like new machinery purchases. Many have also been forced to reduce staff. |
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| In the first four months of 2009 Italy exported 1 million 48 thousand tons of stone (raw materials, finished products and chips), for a value of 427 million 475 thousand euro, which corresponds to a 21,3% reduction in quantity and a 23,6% reduction in value compared to the same period in 2008.
These figures, published by the Internazionale Marmi e Macchine Carrara that carries out the collection, processing and analysis of production figures and trends on the natural stone markets on a regular basis, show that fears that 2009 would be a difficult, bleak year were founded. |
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Continuing its extensive efforts to educate stone users on the truth about granite and radon, the Marble Institute of America (MIA) recently made presentations at the Marmomacc trade fair in Verona, Italy, and StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas in Las Vegas, NV. The audience at Marmomacc included several members of the international trade press - a key factor considering the need for worldwide support for the MIA´s "Truth About Granite Fund." Meanwhile, the large audience at StonExpo included fabricators, distributors and other trade professionals.
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| In the first six months of 2008 the natural stone industry exported 1 million 610 thousand tons, for a value of 849 million 890 thousand euro, with a -1,7% reduction in quantity and -4,8% reduction in value compared to the same period in 2007. These are the figures published by the Internazionale Marmi e Macchine Carrara, having processed the Istat data available, limiting assessments to the higher value products (marble, granite and travertine, raw materials and finished products) and not products such as chips, powders and slate. |
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The most comprehensive scientific study of health threats from granite countertops did not find a single stone that poses any health risk. Quantities of radon and radiation emitted by stones included in the analysis all fell well below average outdoor background levels that are commonly found in the United States.
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