>The Valencia region is leading exports and imports of natural stone._

The Valencia region is leading exports and imports of natural stone in Spain, with 41% and 28% respectively, thus consolidating along Galicia as "one of the great engines exporting sector", according to the report 'Foreign Trade Sector natural stone in Spain', prepared by AIDICO Federation and the Natural Stone.


Both regions grouped 76% of the total export value and 54% of the importer. Specifically, Galicia accumulates 35% and 26% respectively from the Generalitat elaborated in a statement.

Regarding the value of exports, followed Castilla y Leon (8%), Basque Country, Catalonia, Andalusia and Murcia. On the import, distribution is less concentrated, and after the Valencia region and Galicia, Catalonia stress (11%), Andalusia (10%) and the Basque Country (9%).

Exports reached 1.024,5 million, representing an increase of 6.8% compared to 2006, while imports, which had grown annually since 2004 in value terms over the two-digit growth eased and stood at 377.24 million.

Thus, the report reflects how exports have exceeded Spanish natural stone for the first time the 1,000 million euros, thanks to accelerating the internationalization process experienced by the sector since the beginning of the century.

The main destinations for exports in terms of monetary value are the European Union countries (68%), mainly France (27%), UK (13%) and Germany (10%).

According to this document, the field of natural stone in Spain has reached a competitive position in overseas markets, despite the emergence of new markets in countries like China or India.Among non-EU countries, highlighting the U.S. (14%), China (9%) and the United Arab Emirates (4%).

As for exports in volume measures, China is the main destination country with 26%, but within the European Union, the largest country receiving these materials is Spain with 58% of the total.Among the countries that demand greater volume of exports include France (20%) and UK (10%).

With regard to imports, China is the country of which is imported the largest amount of stone, with 25% of the total value, while imports from the European Union is 28%, coming mainly from Italy (14%) and Portugal (12%).



Materials Moreover, the report notes that the marble is the material that has a major exporter with 54% in volume and 49% of the value of the exports sector (501.6 million euros).


Information extracted from current scene



The latter element remains the blackboard, with 34% of export value (348 million euros) and the granite with 17% (175 million euros).

On the import side, the granite represents 50% of the total value (187 million), followed by marble with a 43% (162 million euros) and the slate with only 7% of the total value ( 27 million euros).