New Discoveries Abound for Italian Marble and Fine Stone Companies
'This achievement underscores how our product consistently ranks first in terms of material quality and craftsmanship,' trade show organizer Adolfo Rebughini, general manager of Veronafiere, told WWD.
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Veronafiere, in the Italian city of Verona, is gearing up to welcome 1,400 exhibitors from 50 countries and more than 50,000 operators and professionals from 150 nations to Marmomac, the international trade show for the stone supply chain. At Marmomac, which will take place Sept. 23 to 26, Italian white marble takes center stage as one of the most successful products internationally, Rebughini said.
The demand for classic Italian marbles, from Carrara to Calacatta, is experiencing significant growth in the luxury construction sector, both in private settings and in the hotel and spa industries. Especially in China and the Gulf region where bright interiors contrast with the warm climates. Highly prized colored marbles are also in great demand: Rosso Verona, Travertine, Perlato di Sicilia, Pietra Serena, Trani Bronzetto, Palissandro Botticino and Porfido.
According to fine stone industry consortium Confindustria Marmomacchine, exports of Italian stone materials in 2024 rose 3.8 percent in volume, reaching 2.1 million tons. In value terms, exports reached 2.18 billion euros, marking a 5.8 percent rise compared to 2023.
Raw materials, which account for 21 percent of exports, increased by 10.7 percent, while exports of semi-finished and processed materials (which make up 79 percent of the total) grew by 4.5 percent.
The U.S. is the industry's top market according to Confindustria Marmomacchine. In 2024, exports of processed Italian natural stone to the U.S. rose 14 percent to 542 million euros. Germany ranked second with 125.2 million euros worth of exports, down 1.7 percent, while France was up 9.5 percent to 115.6 million euros. Emerging markets like Saudi Arabia featured prominently with 84.5 million euros, surging significantly, up 37.2 percent. China was the top consumer of raw materials with exports totaling 229 million, up 27 percent, followed by India at 46.7 million, down 14.7 percent.
Italian companies, in the meantime, are eagerly exploring new geographical areas that could serve not only as markets but also as sources of raw materials and partners for joint development. In particular, East Africa, where countries like Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania offer underdeveloped deposits and a rich geological diversity, are one such opportunity, Rebughini explained.
The Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia, is not only a major buyer but also a region investing in the exploration and development of its natural resources. Finally, in Latin America, there are countries that present a growing market for businesses. In particular, Brazil boasts more than 1,200 types of marble, quartz, granite and ornamental stones. Numerous Italian companies, he said, are already operating mining sites there. As a result, Veronafiere also organizes Marmomac Brazil in São Paulo, a leading trade fair for Central and South America, as well as for operators in the U.S.
The 59th edition of Marmomac aims to highlight all the 'veins' of the storytelling of fine stone — from production, to technological advances and how it is refined from a raw block to finished material.
In an effort to compete with more design-forward events, the 2025 layout of the The Plus Theater, the curatorial Pavilion of the fair, has been inspired by Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier's Plan Voisin, an urban model for the center of Paris, drawn between 1922 and 1925.
Looking ahead, the marble and stone market exports to foreign markets are expected to rise 4 to 6 percent in value terms in 2025. Risks to that forecast include unexpected tariffs and, or a worsening geopolitical situation. It is challenging to make a realistic forecast today due to the uncertainty surrounding U.S. economic policy, Rebughini commented, adding that the recent EU tariff that fixed duties at 15 percent will still spur a decline in export volumes to the U.S.
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