The sector of natural stone in Spain grew significantly between 2003 and 2005, maintained its figures in the period of 2006 to 2007.

However, over the past year the production of natural stone in our country suffered an important drop and only recorded 6,083 tons of production versus the more than 8,000 tons produced the year before.

It is clear that the crisis that started in the middle of the year 2007 has had an important impact on the natural stone sector, which is closely linked to the construction sector. This decrease in production is reflected in the fact that 150 companies that were involved in the extraction and production of natural stone closed, causing in turn a drop in the number of workers, 5,000 of which lost their jobs in the year 2008. This situation of diminishing production and loss of employment has been getting worse thus far in 2009, which is forecast to end with a production figure that is 50% lower than that of the year before.

Exports were an important bulwark for the sector throughout 2008, when the trade balance in our country continued to be positive by 595.37 million euros, which is to say, a decrease of more than 12% was experienced in exports, reaching a figure of 877 million euros. In 2008, 2,500,000 tons were exported, 51% of which consisted of marble, 25% of slate and 24% of granite.

On the other hand, Spain imported 282 million euros worth of stone, which, when compared to the 381 million euros imported the year before, results in a downward variation of more than 26%. Both exports and imports of stone have been affected by the crisis that the world economy is undergoing and the Spanish economy is particularly sensitive to this unfavourable scenario. Natural stone has not been able to avoid the situation either.

Exports make up an important element of support to this sector and, although it has been greatly affected by the crisis, its figures will probably recover sooner than those for domestic consumption, due to which it is important to pay attention to the information coming from markets that are normally consumers of Spanish stone and also to keep in mind new destinations for this product.

Trade fairs have been a useful tool for finding out how international demand has developed, as well as a good forum for doing business in this sector.

Participating as exhibitors in markets with commercial interest, should continue to be a useful tool that aids the international projection of Spanish stone abroad. In 2009 the Federación Española de la Piedra Natural was present at six of the pavilions directed at Spanish companies and at a similar number of international trade fairs, from the one held in Xiamen (Republic of China), to the one scheduled for November in Poznan (Poland), as well as others held in Germany, Italy or Qatar.

This is the first year that the FDP has run a pavilion at the Kamien-Stone fair, in response to the demand expressed by companies to be made aware of the business possibilities existing in the Eastern European markets for Spanish stone. This initiative may be extended in 2010 and pavilions may be organized for those markets of interest to Spanish companies, something for which backing will be sought with the Spanish Institute of Foreign Trade.