China has become the world's top stone exporter

In recent years, China has become the world's largest stone exporter. From 1998 to 2002, China's stone export volume increased from 4.862 million tons to 9.583 million tons; the export value increased from 71.188 million US dollars to 114.27 million US dollars, with an average annual growth rate of 18.5% and 12.6%. However, at present, China's stone exports are still based on quantitative and resource-based, export growth is lower than the world average, the average export price of stone units is only 119.2 yuan / ton.

From 1998 to 2002, China's stone imports increased from 1.010 million tons to 2.537 million tons; import value increased from 244.99 million US dollars to 44.241 million US dollars, with an average annual growth rate of 10.9% and 15.4%, respectively, and the average import price was 174.4 US dollars. /Ton. Most of the stones imported from China are medium and low grade blocks, and imports are mainly used for the adjustment of varieties. The products are mainly used in the construction of joint ventures and higher-grade public places.

Last year, China's stone import and export totaled 12.12 million tons, accounting for 44.9% of the world's trade volume; China's stone import and export totaled 1.585 billion US dollars, accounting for 13.2% of world trade volume. As China occupies an important position in the world stone industry, international stone merchants attach great importance to China's stone resources and markets and have invested in China. Fujian, Guangdong, Shandong, Sichuan, Guangxi and other places have built Sino-foreign joint venture stone companies.

There is still a gap in exports that cannot be ignored. According to World Bank estimates, the world's stone industry will have a faster development in 2003. It is expected that the stone production will reach 80.86 million tons, of which the output of 12 major producing countries will reach about 73 million tons, still Masters 90% of the world's stone production.

In 2003, the number of major plate consuming countries with a consumption of more than 10 million square meters is estimated to be 15; of which, China is 77.46 million square meters; the United States is 45.80 million square meters; Japan is 36.41 million square meters; Spain is 31.49 million square meters; Million square meters; Italy 17.38 million square meters. The consumption of 15 major stone-consuming countries accounts for more than 80% of the world's total consumption. The traditional consumption pattern will not undergo major changes.

It is estimated that in 2003 there will be more than 1 million tons of exports from six major stone exporting countries, including 11.3 million tons in China, 4.60 million tons in Italy, 3.65 million tons in Spain, 2.8 million tons in India and 1.32 million tons in Portugal. 122 million tons. The total export volume of the six countries is about 24.85 million tons, accounting for about 89% of the world trade volume. The traditional trade pattern will not undergo major changes. The main reason for the large export volume of stone in the above six countries is that these countries all have rare precious stones in the world.

China's vast land is rich in precious stone mineral deposits. There are stone treasure mines in the coastal, inland, and western regions. Beijing, Fujian, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Guangxi, and Yunnan are all major producing areas of precious stones. This expands the stone industry and expands it. Stone exports provide the most fundamental guarantee.

The advantage of Chinese stone export is that there are many precious varieties, wide distribution, low production costs, and good quality. However, due to the small size of export products and the fact that foreign companies cannot meet the requirements for large blocks and large blocks, the prices on the international market are still low. In addition, the export of products in color and color, but also can not keep up with the development trend of the world. At the same time, due to the influence of transportation, climate, and mining conditions (water, electricity, machinery, talent, and technology) in remote mountainous areas, mass production and exports are limited.

At present, China has more than 3,000 enterprises engaged in stone mining and stone processing. The processing companies basically realize mechanization. Most of the mining enterprises are semi-mechanized. However, the level of stone mining and processing in China is still at a certain distance from the international advanced level. Due to the smaller volume of mining stone blocks, the waste of resources is more serious. At present, the volume of stone blocks mined in Italy, Spain and other countries is generally between 7 cubic meters and 10 cubic meters, while the volume of Chinese stone blocks is mostly only 2 Cubic meters below.