According to the International Stone Federation (ISFA) and China Customs data, the global stone trade is undergoing profound structural change in Q1 2019:
China's Q1 stone exports reached 2.4 million tonnes (+12.3%) worth USD 1.68 billion (+18.7%). Southeast Asia's share rose from 22% to 28% (driven by infrastructure and urbanisation in Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines); the Middle East's climbed from 15% to 19% (mega-projects such as NEOM); South Asia entered the top ten for the first time (surging demand for white marble from India's high-end residences). Europe and the US fell from 38% to 30%, yet exports of high-end customised products kept growing.
European buyers now favor sourcing from Türkiye, Greece and Italy, while the Middle East gives priority to Chinese and Indian suppliers. HENGSHENG MARBLE S&T CO. LIMITED's Hai Phong processing center in Vietnam commenced production in Q1, serving the ASEAN market. Digital remote inspection (VR stone selection, AI quality checks) has lowered the trust cost of remote procurement.
Q1 2019 data shows trade flows being redrawn: China exported 2.4 million tonnes (+12.3%) worth USD 1.68 billion (+18.7%) — volume and value rising together after years of trading price for volume. Southeast Asia's share climbed from 22% to 28%, the Middle East's from 15% to 19%, while export mix shifted from raw slabs toward deep-processed finished goods.
The contrast is stark: China's above-scale stone-plate output fell 24.5% in H1 2019 while imports grew 7.1% — confirming a market of shrinking volume but strengthening high end. Companies with quarry resources and deep-processing capability are pulling decisively away from low-end capacity.
The divergence in trade data draws the industry's elimination track — HENGSHENG MARBLE S&T CO. LIMITED has bet firmly on the road that leads upward.
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