Granite Countertops

Stone Column on the development of foreign trade

    1, the short recalled

    The Natural Stone extraction, processing, trade, the use of an ancient activities, it runs through the entire history of human civilization.

    During the Roman Empire, the Roman hegemony in the Mediterranean, was the monopoly of the local variety of marble mining, mine is the emperor of all.

    After the demise of the Roman Empire from AD 5th century to the 12th century is marble and other stone mining fading period. By the year 15, 16 century, many countries, as well as the exploitation of national Stone Stone With demand for foreign imports, the only stone mining and thrive.

    Subsequently, a European industrial revolution, a revolution that promote the development and exploitation of stone.

    The 19th century, especially the white marble marble production of a comprehensive growth for the emerging middle class and a large number of buildings.

    The 20th century, industrial production into the marble processing, and its use not only for decorative component, but also for wall finishes.

    20 late 1950s to the mid-1960s, as represented in the Italian stone mining, processing industry has begun to enter the automated machinery production. www. stone-buy. com-China Stone Network - Foreign Stone

    60 in the second half of diamond cutting tools into the stone processing industry, the late 1980s early 1990s and entered a stone mining industry, industrial Stone has revolutionary changes. In the late 1980s early 1990s, high-tech industries into the stone. From then on Stone to coarse image of the industrial one, and as a fine arts display products industry in the world.

    The late 1980s, the rapid development of the construction industry, and promote the international market for natural stone demand, thus contributing to the development of its production. In the mid-1980s the World Natural Stone output was 23 million tons, in 1989 to 30 million tons respectively in 1926 of 15.3 times and 20 times. And from 1979 to 1989 in 10 of the World Stone production has increased by 50%, the average growth rate was 4.1 percent.

    Since the 1990s, despite the Gulf crisis, the Kosovo crisis, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the India-Pakistan dispute over Kashmir, 9.11 and so on, will bring to the world of turbulence and unrest, the world economy is in the low trend, but due to China and other emerging Stone national's rise, building decorative stone industry is still in development.

    World production of natural stone to material extraction volume terms in 1996 to 46.5 million tons from 1986 and retire in 10 years and an increase of 14%; to 2000, the World Stone material output reached 59.65 million tons, and 1996 increased 28%, and in 1986 compared to an increase of 175% (over "STONE 2001" statistical information).

    2, the world production status www. stone-buy. com Stone of Stone-China Network - Stone Press

    According to the website of the Italian IMM statistics on the 2001 World Stone materials output was 68.7 million tons, up 2000's 63.85 million tons an increase of 7.6%, while in 2000 than in 1999 grew by 5.7 percent. In 2001 the world's total of 30 national production Natural Stone material, only China, Italy and India yield more than 10 million tons, China accounted for the first of 16.8 million tons; Italy ranked second to 10.46 million tons; India accounts third place for 10.1 million tons; respectively, over 2000 grew by 29 percent, 3.3 percent, 0.5 percent. Stone highlighted the development of the industry is Iran, in 2000 the output was 7.413 million tons, in 2001 the output was 7.536 million tons, leapt to Spain, Portugal and Brazil, ranked second only to India in the fourth. In 2001,matera; annual output accounting for a fifth of Spain, to 6.2 million tons; sixth place is Turkey, for the 2.625 million tons; Brazil from the previous year fell to sixth place in seventh place, 2.5 million tons . In addition, the 2001 annual material volume of more than 1 million tons in the country there are Greece, Finland, the United States, South Africa and Mexico.

    3, the development of the world Stones

    Stone enterprises and foreign scientific research departments and the universities to combine commercial basis, the industrial development of new technologies Stone has been a great success. The current stone mining processing new technology, new equipment and development trends are as follows:

    3.1 mining technology equipment simplistic practical

    Diamond Saw rope to the example. End of the 19th century to the 20th century the late 1980s GM in marble, granite spiral rope Saw mine has been basically eliminated. From the mid-1980s began research and development until the early 1990s, Diamond Wire Saw has been commonly used marble, granite mining. This high-efficiency equipment: ordinary rope Saw mining marble hours cutting output less than 1 meter square, diamond sawing rope cutting marble mining output has reached 8-15.5 square meters / hour; cutting granite mining rate of 1.5-6.5 square meters / hour. www. stone-buy. com-China Stone Network - Shek industry knowledge

    In addition, the use of new technology Stone mining drilling equipment used in Taiwan still air of drilling machines, vehicle-mounted rock drill for cutting the mountain chain arm saw and diamond band saw, as well as for large ore body or Splitting the top material airbags stone, rapid expansion agent.

    The current foreign Natural Stone mine has basically do not use drill a hole blasters, gunpowder blasting this barbaric destruction of resources exploitation, but rather supporting the use of new technologies and equipment, standardize mining, environmental protection, access to a truly sustainable mining production.
    3.2 stone processing technology and equipment large, multifunctional and

    3.2.1 large

    1) two-way granite sheet cutting machine

    B. traditional two-way are four-pillar-cutting machine, it is also developing a five - two-way dual-beam cutting machine. Marble processing output 250-300 square meters / 24 hours, up to 800-1,000 square meters / 24 hours, production efficiency improved several times over.

    2) large granite sawing and sand mill

    The end of the 1980s to the 1990s, was the large granite sawing and granite sand to the size of the mill and improve other aspects of the most obvious.

    A. The large granite processing equipment sand Saw Saw Blade, has changed from a maximum of 80, to a maximum loaded 150, or even 180; effectively cutting width from the past 2.2 m to 4.0 m, 4.5 m, 5 meters, or even 5.3 m; sawn frame Arm from 1.20 m to 1.45 m; Saw Blade spaced from the 500 mm to 600 mm, some up to 680 mm; sawing down from the average speed for 1.5 cm / hours increased to 2.5 cm / hour, the maximum output of about 8 cm / hour. The initiative flywheel diameter from 3.2 m to 3.6 m, lower energy consumption.

    B. granite width of the plate mill from 1.8 m development to 2.2 m; grinding head of the early 1980s of eight, developed to 20, and 24.

    3.22 Single-of

    The increase in multi functional models is the Panchiao-cutting machine. Apart from such bridge cutting machine cutting boards, also has processing inverted wide-angle side grooving, grinding side milling, processing curved plate, processing profiled surface, carving or as a bridge-head mill, and so a number of functions, formation of a multifunctional computer.

    3.3 Stone Processing Machinery of different types of products meet the needs diversification

    The 1990s stone industries most prominent technological achievements was the Stones the emergence of different types of processing equipment. It mushroomed, developed very quickly, and the species diversity, to meet various needs of different types of stone processing. Special-shaped stone processing equipment now can be divided into six categories: Straight Edge processing of different types of machines, processing machines of different types of curves, surfaces of different types of processors, Diamond Wire Saw Shaped processors, programmable automatic replacement of equipment and carving knives of different types of programmable processing machine.

    Another portable multifunctional plate of different types of planes and grinding parabolic arc machines.

    3.4 high-tech processing equipment commonly used Stone

    The late 1980s, a series of high-tech application of technology in Stone, Stone industry to bringing about a revolutionary change. For example, the computer used for sawn granite sand; granitic large plate mill use of smart devices, with high automation control functions; special-shaped stone processing machines (CNC machining centers of different types) can be equipped with Windows system, AutoCAD computer-aided design systems, CAM and computer-aided manufacturing systems dedicated graphics package, making CNC Machining Center operating system more powerful, better compatibility. At present, the mill has also started using such software.

    3.5 break with tradition, the development of new equipment and tools

In the late 1980s, 1980s and early 1990s, Stone industry in technology development, in the use of material, cutting tools, mechanical structure, breaking the traditional concept of the development of many new products, such as: high pressure water jet cutting machine (water knife) and multi - Diamond Wire-rope.

    3.6 Diamond Tool Specialization

    World Stone industrial mid-1960s began to use diamond tools, stone industry has a revolution. Today, diamond cutting tools industry has specialized in stone. Now, diamond saw blade diameter has reached five meters, in addition, has been the large-scale use of diamond mill stone, Mopan, grinding stick, cutting and grinding for the special-shaped diamond rope. In short, the use of stone industry has reached hundreds of diamond tools, as well as nearly 1,000 species. www. stone-buy. com-China Stone Network - International News


    4, the World Trade Stone

    4.1 Historical Review

    Since the 1990s, world trade has developed rapidly Stone, in 1993 the total volume of trade the first time more than 10 million tons to 10.492 million tons, accounting for about World Stone material output 31%. In 10.492 million tons of the total volume of trade, marble material to 5.218 million tons, accounting for 49.7 percent; finished wood for 4.2 million tons from 1989 accounted for 36% increase in 1993 of 40 per cent, reaching the highest level in history. In 2000 the total volume of trade to 22.751 million tons, accounting for past World Stone material output 38.1%, marble material to 3.071 million tons, accounting for that trade volume 13.5%; granite material  to 7.754 million tons, accounting for 34.1%; finished wood and slate for 11.926 million tons, accounting for 52.4 percent. In 2000 the total trade amount in 1993 grew by 117 percent.

    From 1990 to 2000, world trade volume, the average growth rate of stone-8.5% (over "STONE 2001" statistical information).

    4.2 World Trade Status Stone

    According to the latest statistics Italy IMM website information, in 2001 the world's major countries and regions Stone trade and the import and export of the changes are as follows:

    4.2.1 marble, granite material Import and Export
4.2.1.1 Import: 2001 world 43 to enter the trade Stone countries and regions a total imports of natural stone material 12.12 million tons, up 4.3 percent. Import volume is the first of China Taiwan (about 2.2 million tons), Italy (to 2.158 million tons), the third is the mainland of China (the 2.082 million tons), the fourth is Spain (820,000 tons), Fifth was the Netherlands (to 819,000 tons), the sixth is the United Kingdom (to 562,000 tons), the seventh is Germany (510,000 tons), Poland is the eighth (to 263,000 tons), the ninth by Japan (256,000 MT), the 10th is Belgium - Luxembourg (230,000 tons)

    Japan has been completely withdrew from the Stone material big country imports the ranks. The Netherlands and Poland has become the world's major countries in the use of stone.
4.2.1.2 Exports: 2001 world 43 to enter the trade Stone countries and regions a total export of natural stone material 7.833 million tons, compared with the previous year decrease of 24.8 percent. Export volume is the first of China (1.816 million tons), Brazil (949,000 tons), the third is Italy (939,000 tons), the fourth is Spain (745,000 tons), the fifth is Turkey ( 539,000 tons), is the sixth Portugal (384,000 tons), Finland is the seventh (295,000 tons), eighth Norway (289,000 tons), the ninth is Belgium - Luxembourg and Iran (213,000 tons).

    In 2001 the order was compared to the previous year, basically has not changed.

    4.2.2 marble, granite exports of processed products

    2001 world total of about 15.86 million tons of marble and granite processing products export, compared with the previous year increased by 5.9 percent, only the previous year's growth rate increased 0.9 percentage point, it is still growth trend. China's 2000 exports accounted second in the world has been elevated to first reach 6.154 million tons, Italy's export volume from 2000 of the first demoted to second place by 5.154 million tons, the third is Spain (957000 MT), the fourth is Turkey (874,000 tons), the fifth is a Portuguese (544,000 tons), the sixth is Greece (294,000 tons), Hong Kong, China is the seventh (217,000 tons), Belgium 8 - Luxembourg (212,000 tons), Mexico is the ninth (208,000 tons), X is Iran (189,000 tons).

    In 2001 the order, in addition to the changes in China and Italy, Belgium - Luxembourg, Mexico, Portugal elevate A, Greece will upgrade two.

    4.2.3 marble material and processed products) import and export

    4.2.3.1 Import: 2001 world 43 countries and regions were imported marble material and processed products 3.942 million tons, compared with the previous year by 2.6%, while in 2000 and 1999 compared to the growth rate is 21.4 percent.

    2001 marble import volume is the first of China (1.078 million tons), the second is the United States (603,000 tons) Third is Italy (481,000 tons), the Fifth Austria (241,000 tons), sixth is Hong Kong, China (188,000 tons), the seventh Lebanon (148,000 tons), the ninth is Germany (104,000 tons), the 10th place by Japan (102,000 tons).

    The first volume of Chinese imports here, in fact, primarily a marble material and Daguang plate, and the United States is the main marble imports of processed products.

    4.2.3.2 exports: in 2001 the world about the export of marble Total 5.301 million tons, an increase of 2.3%, while in 2000 than in 1999 grew by 16.5%. Two years difference 14.2 percent growth rate. Of course, the largest export volume or Italy, reaching 2.13 million tons; Turkey to the second largest (918,000 tons), the third is Spain (690,000 tons), the fourth is Portugal (283,000 tons), the fifth Iran (28.1 10,000 tons), the sixth is Greece (231,000 tons), the seventh China (180,000 tons), Belgium 8 - Luxembourg (123,000 tons), is the ninth Mexico (98,000 tons), China 10 Hong Kong (91,000 tons).

    China has always been in this area exports ranked behind, we can see that this is not China's strength, or is not in the world ring for the species.

    4.2.4 granite (materals and processed products) import and export

    Imports of China Taiwan is the largest (2.157 million tons), or first in the world; to the second place is Italy (1.836 million tons), the third place is Japan (1.466 million tons), the Fourth is the United States (1.094 million tons), is fifth in the mainland of China (1.093 million tons) is the sixth in Germany (952,000 tons), seventh in the Netherlands (898,000 tons), the eighth place is South Korea (687,000 tons), ninth place was Spain (686,000 tons), 10th place is the United Kingdom (613,000 tons)

    Although Japan imports marble in the back row, but imports of granite is standing in the front, that Japan's current high demand for granite, but the main thing is to actually granite processing products. Italy has always been a granite materials biggest imports, but in 2001 was China Taiwan lagging behind. Europe has always been a major importer of Germany, marble imports in ninth place, it only imported granite sixth.

    4.2.4.2 Exports: 2001 world exports of granite (material and processed products) Total 10.46 million tons over 2000 Tak 12.71 million tons substantially reduced 17.7 percent. Exports account for the first year and the same is still China; row in the second position is Italy (1.385 million tons), ranked third in the Brazil (939,000 tons), the fourth is Spain ( 533,000 tons), more than three countries a year with an upgrade; export volume ranked fifth in the United Kingdom (373,000 tons), while the previous year's ranking is 10th; Article six Finland (323,000 tons), Norway is the seventh largest (288,000 tons), is eighth in Sweden (235,000 tons), the ninth place is Belgium - Luxembourg (197,000 tons), 10th place in Canada (187,000 tons).

    4.2.5's status

    In 2001 China's stone industry in the international Apart from the above-said material production (16,800 tons) First, there are stone material (marble and granite) first export volume (18,160 tons), Stone processed products ( marble and Granite) first export volume (61,540 tons), marble mater amend processed products imports First (10,780 tons) granite material and the first exports of processed products (47,130 tons).
4.2.6 Stone changes in the structure of export products

    At present, international trade Stone is a major change in a number of countries from the main export material become a major export processing products or export of processed products has increased year by year. Change the past only individual countries phenomenon, and by 2001 the change has become a Stone international trade a structural change. such as China, Stone material export volume in 2000 than in 1999 to reduce such as 12.2 percent, in 2001 than in 2000 and a decrease of 38 percent, while exports of processed products Stone, in 2000 than in 1999 also, a decrease of 39.7 percent, while the export of processed products Stone, in 2000 than in 1999 increased by 9.4 percent, in 2001 than in 2000 increased by 10.3%. again Norway, Stone arterial export volume, while in 2000 compared to 1999 an increase of 34.3 percent, but in 2001 than in 2000 decreased by 8.1%, while exports of processed products Stone, it is year after year growth in 2000 than in 1999 grew by 18.1 percent, in 2001 than in 2000 increased by 7.7% , than in 2000 dropped by 24.8 percent, while world exports of processed products in the growth gradually accelerated, in 2000 than in 1999 increased 6%, in 2001 than in 2000 increased by 5.9%. word, the trend is processed products exports Stone word of countries and regions continue to increase. particularly in the Far East in recent years imports of second cutting and polishing equipment in growth that the region in accordance with market demand abroad continuously improve processing industries, which indirectly proves that this trend.
4.2.7 world powers Italy Stone's status changes

    In 2001, there is no doubt that the Italian stone leading power status remains unchanged. Marble but in 2001 in addition to this one (material and processed products) or export of the first, the other has always accounted for the first several areas, if material yield, material imports and exports have become the second.

    With many emerging countries Stone emerged, the world powers Italy Stone's status decreased significantly in the past the only big country Stone's status is not scenery.
    4.2.8 Italy Stone machinery exports

    the amount of 44.71%, of which the EU countries accounted for 31.33 percent; non-EU countries accounted for 13.38 percent; exports to Africa accounted for the total amount of exports from the 8.02%, North America accounted for 10.38 percent, Central and South America accounted for 7.54%, the Far East accounted for 15.06% , Oceania accounted for 0.31 percent. exports in the total amount of exports from the beginning of cutting equipment exports accounted for the total amount of 71 percent.
    5 world production and trade prospects Stone

    Italy and France TU check the information on World Press Stone future projections of production and trade were introduced as follows:

    use of growth 40.3%, will reach 83.7 million tons and 914 million square meters .8370 10,000 tons of material . After processing, the waste is 24.45 million tons, the net product of the 49.4 million tons. to the 2005 World Stone trade volume to 2 cm thick sheet dollars, will reach 521.1 million square meters, of which  material accounted for 35 percent, finished 65 per cent .2005, 2001 Stone total trade volume with the 57 percent in 2015 and 2000 phase compared to the 2015 World Stone material the production and use of the growth of 176%, output will reach 164.5 million tons, the use of volume will reach 1.7945 billion cubic meters, respectively, are 2000 of 2.76 times. www. stone-buy. com-China Stone Network - Stone common sense

    164.5 million tons of material After processing, the waste of 67.5 million tons, the net product output was 97 million tons. Stone to the 2015 World trade volume to 2 cm thick sheet dollars, will reach 1.2337 billion square meters, accounting for the same year Stone output 68.7% in 2000 trade volume of 3.6 times .2025 and 2000 compared to 2025 World Stone material the production and use of the growth of 443%, output will reach 324 million tons, patronage will reach 3.53 billion square meters, respectively, are 2000 of 5.43 times .3.24 billion tons of material After processing, the waste of 133 million tons. net product output was 191 million tons. stone to the 2025 World Trade volume to 2 cm thick sheet dollars, will reach 2.92 billion square meters, accounting for the same year Stone output 82.5%, the 2000 trade volume of 8.6 times.