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Summary
The global marble market, estimated at over 86 billion USD in 2023, is enjoying sustained growth, with a forecast CAGR of 4.3% to 2031. Italy remains the leading producer in Europe, contributing 63% of the region's marble output, followed by Greece and Spain. However, the French marble sector is experiencing a slowdown, with a decline in activity for various products over the last decade, although high-value items remain in demand. China dominates marble imports, with a 68% share, and Turkey leads exports, with 35%. French marble production generated around 101.2 million euros, with a significant presence in sectors such as building and construction, interior decoration and the funeral industry. Despite increased competition from China, India and Turkey, and regulatory challenges, the market sees the growth of e-commerce as a notable trend introducing new opportunities for distribution and sales.
changing demand dynamics and competitive landscape in the French marble market
The marble market in France is imbued with an air of elegance and tradition, drawing on the natural beauty of calcite and its enchanting color variations. While marble's history is synonymous with opulence, its demand has experienced a structural decline in recent years, particularly in the production segment. Despite a ten-year contraction for most marble products, finished marble products continue to command respect for their quality, particularly in thriving sectors such as construction, building, the funeral industry and the arts. However, the stronghold of this market is under heavy pressure from foreign competitors. Heavyweights Italy and Spain initially led the way, with Italy contributing 60-65% of European production. Recently, countries such as China, India and Turkey have emerged as formidable adversaries, using cost-effective production methods. Against this backdrop, the French marble industry accounts for a mere 1% to 5% of the total European market.
Regulatory frameworks are manifold, ranging from European standards to regional mandates governing quarrying. This adds a layer of complexity to the industry, which has to strike a balance between aesthetic craftsmanship and sustainable practices. The construction and real estate sector is a lifeline for the marble market, with a rapid rebound of nearly 10% from pre-pandemic levels. Likewise, the interior design and decoration segments are lush fields of application for marble, the French market beingthe French market is estimated at between 25 and 27 billion euros, divided equally between furnishings and interior decoration. Granite and similar rocks eclipse marble in terms of production on the French market, taking the lion's share with over 50%, compared with 10-12% for marble. Yet marble's timeless appeal continues to seduce modern consumers, imbuing contemporary interiors with both opulence and minimalism. Its ability to transform, adapt and evolve aesthetically is testament to its enduring appeal.
The online market has developed as a new channel, facilitating the sale of marble products. It allows consumers to explore a wider selection, with quality, shape and color options easily accessible at their fingertips. This digital evolution has invited both traditional suppliers and new entrants to join the e-commerce bandwagon, contributing to a kind of modern renaissance in marble sales. In short, the marble market in France, while experiencing a decline in production, retains its celebrity status among select customer markets and in the spheres of construction and interior design. At the same time, it is treading new paths to growth through the innovative avenues of e-commerce, maintenance and the sale of marble products.
Key players in the global and French marble industry
The marble market, with its vast range of colors, historical importance and applications in everything from construction to interior design, is both complex and globally interconnected. While France is facing a decline in its domestic marble production, some leading companies remain key players in maintaining the quality and variety of the marble this country offers. At the same time, international giants have continued to assert their market dominance.
Italian mastery: a benchmark for quality
Italy remains the undisputed leader in the marble industry, thanks to its rich history and the quality of its stones. The country's marble is renowned for its purity and variety, with the Carrara quarries standing out as a source of top-quality white marble. Antolini and Henraux are two leading Italian companies that excel in this field. Antolini specializes in the processing of a wide variety of natural stones, and has forged a solid reputation for innovation and design excellence. Henraux, whose roots go back to 1821, also boasts a wealth of expertise and represents the heritage of Italian marble on the international stage.
Turkish export dominance
Turkey has become a powerhouse in marble exports, leveraging its large reserves and competitive production costs to capture a significant share of the global market. With companies like Temmer Marble, Turkey has become synonymous with a diversified and abundant supply of marble, offering different qualities and types of stone to meet different market needs.
China's marble expansion
China's emergence as a major player in the marble market reflects its wider ascendancy in global manufacturing and trading. The country has become not just an importer but also a notable exporter of marble, thanks in particular to the growth of regions such as Guangxi.
Greek aesthetics in stone
The Greek marble industry, although overshadowed by Italy and Turkey, holds its own, particularly with marble from the island of Thassos. Companies such as Philippides Marble of Thassos operate quarries that supply the world with pristine white marble, testifying to Greece's contribution to the market.
French commitment to tradition
Despite the challenges of international competition and the decline of the domestic industry, France is still home to companies committed to quality and craftsmanship in marble production. Regional players continue to mine and process French marble, testifying to the enduring popularity of this stone for decorative purposes and in niche markets such as the funeral industry.
The emergence of e-commerce platforms
As the marble industry modernizes, e-commerce platforms have become important distribution channels, offering consumers greater choice and convenience.
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Inforamtion
- Number of pages : 30 pages
- Format : Digital and PDF versions
- Last update : 28/12/2023
Summary and extracts
1 Market overview
1.1 Definition and scope of study
The marble market in France refers to the economic activity related to the production and sale of marble.
It is a calcareous rock in the form of calcite, whose surface is layered with fissures made of natural minerals of various colors. The basic color of calcite is white, but there is a wide variety of colored marbles due to different sedimentary structures. Marble is composed of the mineral calcite (CaCO3) and also contains other minerals such as clay minerals, micas, quartz, pyrite, iron oxides and graphite. It is used as a decorative rock, in art ( sculpture in particular) or for interior design.
The market can be segmented according to
- Marble type and color (white, black, yellow, red, etc.)
- Final application (building and decoration, statues and monuments, furniture, etc.)
In 2023, the global marble market is estimated at over 86 billion USD, with a CAGR forecast of 4.3% over the following 8 years. The world's leading marble exporters are Turkey (30% of total world exports), followed byItaly (22%) and China (21%).
On the European market, the country that produces the most marble and travertine by far isItaly, with 63% of the region's total production. It is followed by Greece (27%) andSpain (4%).Italy is also the leader in cut stone production, with 78% of European output, followed bySpain with 8% and France with 3%.
By 2022, the French marble industry will be experiencing a structural decline in activity. Business has contracted for almost all products over the past 10 years, even though high-value-added items (finished products) made from marble continue to be prized for their quality. However, certain factors and customer markets are progressing serenely in their respective activities, such as the construction and building sectors, the funeral industry and the plastic arts.
Foreign competition is strong. Initially from neighboring Italy and then Spain, new countries such as China, India and Turkey are entering the market with much lower production costs.
Regulations and standards in the sector are numerous, and involve different levels of players: from the European level concerning the physical verification of materials, to the regional level for quarry management schemes.
1.2 Sustained global market growth
The marble market is estimated to exceed ** billion USD by ****, registering a CAGR of around *.*%, over the forecast period (***).
Marble market size World, ****-****, in billions of euros Source: ****
Global trade:
China is the world's leading customer, with **% of global marble imports by value, while Turkey is the world's leading marble ...
1.3 The European market: the Italian giant
At European level, Italy is an extremely important player ; it is one of the countries that produces the most marble. The Prodcom codes listing the products studied and referred to in the following charts are : ******** Dimension and building stone and articles thereof: marble, travertine, alabaster (***) ******** and ******** Marble and travertine, crude or ...
1.4 French market in decline
Production
Every year, the French ornamental and construction rock industry association (***) publishes figures for the sector two years late. We have therefore summarized the data available in **** in this section, i.e. those for ****.
In ****, *** companies were active in the natural stone sector. Just over a decade later, there are just ...
1.5 Foreign trade
French marble trade balance France, ****-****, in thousands of euros and as a % of sales A COMTRADE
France's coverage rate has remained very stable in recent years (***). Since ****, there has been a recovery in international trade, which had fallen slightly.
france's main trading partners for marble exports France, ****, in thousands of ...
2 Demand analysis
2.1 The different uses of marble
In a publication provided by Intracen (***) about the marble market worldwide, we can find different types of uses for this rock:
In the context of the global marble market, this natural rock is used in a variety of industries and applications due to its unique aesthetic and physical characteristics.
Construction : Marble ...
2.2 Construction and buildings
New construction market
In ****, against a backdrop of recovery from the health crisis, spending on housing by all economic agents will pick up sharply (***) to €*** billion.
This increase is mainly due to a rebound in housing investment, while growth in current expenditure is accelerating. Real estate activity, at *** billion euros, returned ...
2.3 Interior design and decoration
By ****, the decoration and furnishings market will be worth almost ** billion euros in France, divided almost equally between furnishings and interior decoration, which will be worth **.** billion and **.* billion euros respectively.[***]. A specific Businesscoot study dedicated to the French furniture market is available here.
The interior decoration sector is divided between ...
2.4 State of the funeral market in France
In France, around ***,*** people die every year. According to PropulsebyCA, the funeral market generated *.* billion euros in ****, and comprises some *,*** SMEs, **% of which have fewer than ** employees. The funeral market in France is essentially made up of national players, with relatively strong local roots.
Number of deaths France, **** - ****, in thousands Source: ...
2.5 Marble, timeless chic and refinement
Although often perceived as cold and sometimes austere, marble has established itself as a major trend in interior design over the last few years. It has evolved into a timeless classic, as highlighted by the specialist magazine Marie Claire Maison. This noble material embodies luxury and refinement, combining sobriety and minimalism, ...
3 Market structure
3.1 Organization of the marble industry
The activities of the marble industry can be summarized as follows:
3.2 Extraction and transportation of marble
The quarrying, transporting, sawing and working of marble has remained virtually unchanged for over two millennia[***]. in part to the generally difficult access conditions to quarries, the impassable roads in the mountains and the sheer volume and mass of the materials involved. Only the use of dynamite really accelerated extraction ...
3.3 Sawing and processing of marble and limestone
Sawing
The blocks of marble thus extracted from the quarries are then sawn into slabs of varying thickness. UNICEM defines one category for slabs less than * cm thick, and another for slabs equal to or greater than * cm. The unit of account at this stage is the square meter. [***]
source: UNICEM ...
3.4 Marble's place among construction rocks
If we compare marble, in particular building marble, with other building stones in the French industrial panorama in ****, we note that it represents only **.*% of the building stone sector. The largest market is that for granite or similar rocks, which accounts for **.*% of the industry.
Source: ****
In ****, the French building stone ...
3.5 Distribution and the trend towards e-commerce
The International Trade Centre' s report on the marble and granite business sectors in **** isolates e-commerce among the trends and growth drivers for these industries.
Major traditional natural stone countries such as Italy and China have found it convenient to open up this new sales channel, selling their tiles, mosaics and ...
4 Offer analysis
4.1 The different types of marble
It's virtually impossible to list all the different varieties of marble, as their chromatic nuances and purity vary so widely. As long ago as ****, at the time of France's first Universal Exhibition (***), a catalog of marbles was launched in a Traité de Minéralogie written by Armand Dufrénoy of the ...
4.2 Cost structures
Extraction / Quarries
The costs of a marble quarry can be broken down as follows[***] :
Cost of labor Cost of thermal energy, electricity and water Cost of road, rail and sea transport Cost of equipment, blades, disks, abrasives, etc.
For marble quarrying machines, the studenttrum.nl website gives an overview of prices ...
4.3 Price range
Import/export prices
Using French customs data for ****, this time for the unit values (***) of the various marble products, we note that marble granules are relatively affordable, while dimension stones exceed €*** per ton on the export market.
It is also interesting to note that export prices are generally higher than import ...
5 Regulations
5.1 INSEE and French Customs classifications
*-digit Combined Nomenclature (***)
The website data.gouv.fr states: " This nomenclature used by French customs is common to all European Union (***) member states and is used for :
Customs declarations for trade with EU countries Declarations of trade in goods between EU countries Presenting foreign trade statistics
The CN* is an extension ...
5.2 Quarry legislation
Mines and quarries are legal concepts defined by article L***-* of the French Mining Code. [***]
Firstly, quarries are legally Classified Installations (***). They are therefore subject to the legislation set out in the French Environment Code
In addition to the texts concerning classified installations, a "Quarries" section exists in the Environmental ...
5.3 European technical standards
A highly standardized technical activity
The European Union is increasingly defining specific standards for testing natural stone and marble. [***]
Standard EN **** indicates the mass, in kg, of am* of material. The results provide an indication of the degree of compactness and porosity of a natural stone; Standard EN *** specifies the percentage ...
6 Positioning the players
6.1 Segmentation
- Provencale
- Société d’Exploitation de Carrières
- SETP (Comblanchien)
- Vinci Groupe
- Bouygues Groupe
- Eiffage Groupe
- Levantina
- Polycor
- Omya
- Heidelberg Cement
- Générale du Granit
- Perocheau
- Techni Marbre
- Real Marbre
- Marbrerie Milesi
- Marbrerie d’Aquitaine
- Marbrerie de la Crau
- Marbrerie Domenech Frères
- Marbrerie Bergez Retegui
- Marbrerie Alfredo Peixeiro
- Marbrerie Anastay
- Décomarbre
- Marbreries de l’Emperador
- PMC Marbreries
- Marbreries de la Seine
- Ikea
List of charts
- Projected marble market size
- Main marble exporting countries
- Main marble importing countries
- Breakdown of marble granules, flakes and powder production by value
- Breakdown of production by value of dimension stone, including marble
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Latest news
How Vinci is preparing its exit from French freeways - 08/02/2024
- Vinci is preparing its exit from the French freeway business for around 2035-2036.
- Vinci profit for 2023: 4.7 billion euros, an increase of 10% on 2022.
- Vinci sales for 2023: around €69 billion, an increase of 12%.
- Share of Group EBITDA generated by motorway concessions in France in 2023: 39%, down 20 points on 2006.
- Share of EBITDA generated by Vinci Airports and other concessions in 2023: 26%, up 24 points on 2006.
- Vinci is the world's leading private airport operator, with more than 70 airports in 13 countries.
- Vinci acquired the Spanish company Cobra IS for 4.9 billion euros in 2021.
- Vinci has signed an agreement to acquire a 55% stake in Brazilian concession company Entrevias by the end of 2023
- Vinci Highways operates some 4,000 kilometers of freeways in 15 countries.
- Vinci owns four highway concessions in the United States.
EDF : Eiffage to build Penly EPR reactors - 17/11/2023
- Eiffage has signed a contract with EDF for civil engineering work on the EPR2 nuclear reactors in Penly, worth over 4 billion euros.
- Preparatory work is scheduled to start in mid-2024, subject to obtaining the necessary administrative authorizations.
- The two EPR2 reactors at Penly are the first pair of reactors that the French government plans to launch between now and 2035-37, as part of its program to revive the nuclear industry.
Vinci wins a $2.71 billion contract for the Grand Paris Express project - 13/07/2023
- Contract value won by Vinci: €2.71 billion
- Length of tunnels to be designed and built under the contract: 14 kilometers
- Number of stations to be built: 5 (Saint-Cloud, Rueil-Suresnes Mont-Valérien, Nanterre La Boule, Nanterre La Folie and La Défense)
- Number of rear stations to be built: 1 (Nanterre La Folie)
- Number of service structures to be built: 16.
Hydrogen: Vinci concession strengthens distribution with Hype - 29/01/2023
- Hype has invested in a network of 26 production stations in France Vinci
- Concessions has just invested 15 million euros in Hype's exclusive partner for the construction of new hydrogen production and distribution stations in the Ile-de-France region
- Vinci Concessions participates in the latest round of financing for H2 Mobility, Germany's leading provider of hydrogen recharging stations for road mobility
Vinci and Ferrovial win €4 billion contract for Toronto's subway system - 19/12/2022
- Contract covers design, construction and financing €4.4 billion
- Vinci announces the creation of 1,500 direct jobs
- Ontario Line, the future 15.6-kilometre fully automated metro line
- It will include 15 stations, half of which will be underground
- By 2022, Transdev Canada will have 2,500 employees working in urban, school, paratransit and medical transportation
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