Natural Stone Exports Rise, but Tariffs Hit Key Materials
Sector grows on quartzite demand while granite and marble shipments fall under U.S. pressure
FERNANDO HESSEL | Washington, DC
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WASHINGTON, DC - Brazil’s natural stone industry shows growth on the surface, yet the details reveal uneven performance across key materials. Exports totaled 1.24 billion dollars between January and October, a 20.3 percent increase from the same period last year. The rise would likely have been stronger if not for the impact of U.S. tariffs on traditional Brazilian products such as granite, marble, and soapstone.
Shipments of granite to the United States fell 14.7 percent. Marble declined 9.8 percent. Soapstone saw a steep 54.6 percent drop. All three are subject to an additional 50 percent tariff that has weakened Brazil’s competitive position in the American market.
Quartzite remains the exception. Only one customs classification, HTSUS 6802.99.00, was exempted from the surcharge, allowing Brazilian quartzites to expand sharply in U.S. demand. The material has become highly sought after in premium kitchen and bathroom applications, offering durability and aesthetics that do not overlap with U.S. domestic production of marble and granite used mainly in public works and monuments.
The United States continues to be Brazil’s main destination for natural stones with 53.9 percent of total exports. China follows with 17 percent, and Italy with 8.3 percent, both increasing purchases of raw blocks for processing and redistribution.
According to Tales Machado, president of Centrorochas, the industry’s performance shows both resilience and limits. He notes that Brazil holds more than 1,200 varieties of natural stone, one of the world’s greatest geological diversities, yet still faces barriers when political and fiscal decisions restrict market access. Machado says this moment reinforces the need for coordinated technical and diplomatic action in Washington to reduce the long-term effects of the tariffs.
For now, quartzite continues to carry the sector, while the drop in other materials highlights vulnerabilities that remain unresolved under current U.S. trade measures.