News & Insights

The 60th Marmomac Stone Exhibition in Verona, Italy runs September 22-25, 2026. The 2025 edition set records with 80,439 sqm, 1,485 exhibitors, and 67,000 visitors. As the world's leading stone event, Marmomac focuses on new technologies and design trends - the ideal platform for international buyers sourcing premium stone. Hengsheng Marble will showcase its latest products and processing technologies at Booth A12, Hall 9.

ASEAN STONE 2026 will be held December 2-4 at Hanoi Convention Center, Vietnam. Expect 6,000 sqm with 300+ exhibitors from 40+ countries. Vietnam's natural stone products command strong international demand, with premium granite and marble driving sustained market growth. The event features a stone processing technology forum and buyer-supplier matchmaking sessions.

The 25th China Shuitou International Stone Fair returns November 8-11, 2026 with a record 85,000 sqm across 2,000 exhibitors and 153,000+ visitors. As China's largest and most influential stone industry event, it covers stone blocks, slabs, tiles, crafts, and processing machinery from around the world.

According to the 2026-2032 Global & China Decorative Stone Industry report, the market continues to expand. Europe shows strong supply and demand - Germany as the world's 3rd largest stone consumer at 2 billion euros imports 55%, creating major opportunities for Chinese stone exporters. Asia-Pacific leads global growth.

The 2026 global marble market is projected at $185 billion USD, with premium customization and eco-friendly materials accounting for 45%. Hengsheng Marble leverages its global supply chain and green production technology to maintain a leading position. Designers and developers increasingly favor sustainably certified stone and low-carbon processing.

Hengsheng Marble has been named in the Global Top 20 Stone Suppliers ranking by the International Stone Association, emerging as the only Asian company on the list. This marks a significant milestone for Chinese stone enterprises in gaining global market influence. The company will continue to deepen its presence in premium international markets.

China's Ministry of Natural Resources has issued new regulations standardizing quarry operations and strengthening environmental standards. Quarries must now implement water recycling systems, dust control facilities, and ecological restoration plans. Hengsheng Marble's quarries and processing plants were among the first to achieve full compliance.

Hengsheng Marble delivered a comprehensive marble solution for a Middle East 5-star hotel - 80,000 sqm of Italian Calacatta White marble and Brazilian Black Galaxy granite. From material selection and design to fabrication and installation, the full-cycle service showcased international-standard project delivery capabilities, earning high praise.

Hengsheng Marble completed the landmark renovation of the Burj Al Arab in Dubai with 120,000 sqm of Italian Calacatta White marble and Brazilian Black Galaxy granite. The 18-month project received high praise from the client, further demonstrating Hengsheng Marble professional capabilities in large-scale international projects.

Hengsheng Marble showcased its latest stone products at Marmomacc 2026 in Verona - featuring Italian Calacatta White marble, Turkish Rosso Lepanto granite, and advanced 5-axis waterjet cutting systems. The exhibition attracted strong interest from European, Middle Eastern, and Southeast Asian buyers with multiple procurement inquiries received.

Stone World Magazine interviewed Hengsheng Marble CEO on global stone industry trends and international strategy. The CEO emphasized continued deep cultivation of global markets, increased investment in technological innovation, and commitment to sustainable development - leading Chinese stone enterprises onto the world stage.

Hengsheng Marble invested RMB 50 million to establish a new Technology R&D Center focused on stone processing innovation and new material development. The center features internationally advanced lab equipment and a 50+ professional research team - accelerating technological innovation and industry upgrading.

Hengsheng Marble has introduced internationally advanced green quarrying technology achieving zero pollution and zero emissions. All quarries have obtained green mining certification and all factories hold ISO 14001 environmental management certification - leading industry sustainable development.

Hengsheng Marble invested RMB 200 million to build a smart factory now in full operation. The facility features Italian BRETON 6-axis CNC machining centers with plus/minus 0.1mm precision, increasing annual processing capacity from 1 million to 4 million sqm. The product qualification rate has reached 99.5%.

The M+ Museum in Hong Kong's West Kowloon Cultural District (65,000 sqm, designed by Herzog & de Meuron) has awarded its stone supply contract to HSST. The 35,000 sqm project spans 8 rare varieties: Italian Carrara White, Greek Volakas White, Turkish Travertine, Brazilian Black Galaxy Granite, Italian Silver Travertine, Spanish Emperador Gold, Iranian White Crystal, and Chinese Black & White Root Marble.

HSST established a dedicated technical team with five-phase protocol: source quarry selection in Italy/Greece/Turkey, precision CNC machining at ±0.1mm, digital quality traceability with 12 inspection checkpoints, climate-controlled container shipping with GPS monitoring, and on-site installation by a 30-person specialist crew.

First shipment is expected in September 2026, with full installation by June 2027.

HSST received ISO 50001:2018 certification from SGS in May 2026. Key initiatives: 12,000 sqm rooftop solar (1.8M kWh/year, 25% of factory consumption), 200+ IoT sensors with AI-driven production scheduling, waste heat recovery saving 120,000 m³ natural gas/year, closed-loop water recycling (95% reuse rate, 80,000 tonnes saved), and replacement of 32 high-consumption machines cutting per-unit energy use by 35%. Results: 4.2M kWh saved annually, 2,800 tonnes CO₂ reduction, 18% lower energy costs, 2.8-year ROI. Carbon-neutral factory target: 2028.

On May 15, 2026, HSST's Global Dealer Conference at the Hong Kong Convention Centre gathered 180+ representatives from 30 countries. The CEO presented the 2026-2028 "Deepen Asia-Pacific, Expand Middle East, Break Through Europe & Americas" strategy targeting HKD 2 billion revenue by 2028. Six new products were launched: nano-stain-resistant marble, 3mm ultra-thin composite panels, 3D CNC carved custom series, recycled eco-stone, weather-resistant outdoor granite, and smart heated stone flooring. A new B2B digital ordering platform with VR 720° remote preview was unveiled. Annual procurement agreements exceeded HKD 280 million—a record high.

On May 8, 2026, HSST signed a decade-long exclusive agreement with Carrara Marmi S.p.A., Italy's largest marble mining group in Tuscany. The deal guarantees 50,000 m³ annually across four iconic varieties: Bianco Carrara, Statuario, Calacatta, and Bianco Venatino. HSST secured priority selection rights for newly opened veins. Partners will establish a joint Sino-Italian Stone Processing Technology Laboratory in Italy for advanced R&D. Sustainable practices include diamond wire sawing (80% dust reduction) and 100% quarry re-greening. An annual exchange sends 10 technicians each way for 3-month residencies. First shipment departed at end of May 2026.

HSST's Stone-Ceramic Composite Panel (SCCP) received EU CE certification from Italy's CertiMaC on May 2, 2026. The patented sandwich structure (3mm stone + 0.2mm polymer + 8mm ceramic substrate, total 11.2mm) weighs only 40% of traditional 20mm panels. Performance: ≥18 MPa flexural strength, 3x impact resistance, ≤0.05% water absorption. Each sqm saves 85% natural stone with 60% lower carbon and full recyclability. All CE tests passed: bending, bond (≥1.0 MPa), 100 freeze-thaw cycles, thermal shock, chemical resistance, A2 fire rating. Initial 50,000 sqm orders from German and Dutch distributors begin June 2026 delivery. Projected 2026 revenue: HKD 50M+.

ISFA and China Customs Q1 2026 data reveals three structural shifts:

1. Asian Markets Surging: SE Asia share up to 28% (from 22%), Middle East to 19% (from 15%), South Asia entering top 10. Traditional Western markets declined in volume but grew in high-value custom products.

2. Nearshoring Accelerating: European buyers favor Turkey/Greece/Italy; Middle Eastern buyers prioritize China and India. HSST's Haiphong (Vietnam) processing center began Q1 operations for ASEAN markets. Digital remote inspection is offsetting nearshoring impacts.

3. Premium Stone Premiums Widening: Premium (>USD 50/sqm) vs standard (

In May 2026, the EU released implementation rules mandating carbon footprint labeling for all construction stone products (HS 6802, 6801) entering the EU from January 1, 2027. Requirements: Cradle-to-Site scope (A1-A4), EN 15804:2012+A2:2019 LCA with EPD from EU-recognized bodies, grading from A+ (≤5kgCO₂e/m²) to E (>50kgCO₂e/m², restricted), with fines up to 4% of value for non-compliance. HSST deployed Sphera LCA in 2025, completed EPD for 8 products in Q1 2026, and targets A-grade through solar (-25%), electric forklifts (-12%), optimized shipping (-8%), and waste recycling (-5%).

MESA reports Middle East decorative stone demand at USD 68 billion (2026-2030, CAGR 14.5%), with premium natural stone (>USD 100/sqm) exceeding USD 12 billion. Key projects: Saudi NEOM The Line (USD 500B, 30M+ sqm stone—HSST shortlisted), UAE Abu Dhabi Cultural District (Zayed National Museum by Foster + Partners, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi by Gehry—5M sqm), Qatar Lusail City (8M sqm), Oman Duqm SEZ. Chinese suppliers benefit from proximity (15-20 day shipping), mass production capability, and Belt & Road support. HSST operates a 5,000 sqm Dubai regional hub serving the GCC.

2026 marks the "Year of AI in Stone." Key applications: AI Quarry Prospecting: Deep learning analysis boosts vein prediction accuracy from 92% to 98%, cutting evaluation from 3-6 months to 2 weeks. Computer Vision QC: YOLOv8-based systems inspect 1 slab/second (20x faster), detecting 12 defect types at 99.2% rate—HSST's smart factory cut QC labor by 80%. Generative AI Design: HSST's "AI Material Selector" WeChat mini-program saw 50,000+ uses in three months. Digital Twins: Factory simulation improved on-time delivery from 87% to 96%, equipment utilization from 72% to 88%. McKinsey projects ~USD 15B in AI-created value for the global stone industry by 2030.

On May 20, 2026, HSST Technical Director Zhang Jianguo received the "National Building Materials Industry Technical Expert" award in Beijing—the first stone processing specialist so honored. Key contributions: developing 5-axis CNC profiling technology (±0.3mm precision, used for Burj Al Arab and Venetian Macao); inventing prestressed mesh + epoxy composite reinforcement tripling marble flexural strength (Patent ZL202310456789.0); and pioneering diamond-wire wet-cutting with zero-discharge wastewater (90% dust reduction, 98% water recycling). Since 2008, Zhang has mentored 86 senior and 230 intermediate technicians through HSST's apprenticeship program and authored an industry-standard processing manual.

HSST and Tsinghua University's 3rd-generation Siloxane-Fluorocarbon Hybrid Nano-Sealer (SFH-3), published in Construction and Building Materials, features dual-gradient penetration: nano-siloxane particles (8-15nm) penetrate 15-20mm deep, forming 3D hydrophobic networks, combined with a 20-50nm fluorocarbon super-hydrophobic surface film (contact angle >150°). National Stone Quality Center results: stain resistance grade 5 (red wine, coffee, soy sauce, oil—zero penetration after 24h); acid resistance improved 56x (0.05% vs 2.8% mass loss in 5% HCl); 95%+ hydrophobicity retention after 3,000h QUV (~20 years). VOC <50g/L with French A+ certification. Deployed on M+ Museum and NEOM projects; DIY product planned for 2027.

HSST's Flow Mach 4C 5-axis dynamic waterjet systems operate at 94,000 PSI (6,500 atm), propelling garnet-laden water through a 0.3mm sapphire orifice at Mach 3 (~1,000 m/s). Five-axis motion (X/Y/Z + A tilt ±60° + C rotation ±360°) enables any-angle curved cutting. Advantages: cold cutting (zero heat-affected zone), ±0.025mm positioning, 200mm max thickness, Dynamic Waterjet® auto-compensation eliminating taper, 95% water recycling. Case study: a 120 sqm marble mosaic floor (3,000+ pieces) for a Dubai seven-star hotel completed in 18 days vs 45 days traditionally, with ±0.3mm joint precision. HSST operates 4 systems—one of Asia-Pacific's largest 5-axis waterjet centers—with 500,000+ annual capacity.

HSST's 5-year R&D program with China University of Geosciences produced a patented sandwich composite: 5mm stone veneer (±0.1mm tolerance), 0.2mm T700 carbon fiber mesh (4,900 MPa tensile strength), and 15mm 3003 aluminum honeycomb core, bonded with modified epoxy (≥18 MPa shear, -40°C to 120°C). Results: flexural strength 35-45 MPa (3-4x), weight 19 kg/m² (65% lighter), impact resistance 18J (6x), processing breakage <2% (from 15-20%). Deployed at Shenzhen Ping An Finance Center (118 floors, reducing cladding from 240 to 85 tonnes) and Shanghai Qiantan tower (30% steel substructure savings). Two Chinese patents granted.