In the U.S. stone industry, one of the largest growth markets has clearly been granite slab sales. With the growing popularity of granite kitchen countertops for residential applications, U.S. companies are importing granite slabs at an ever-increasing rate, using colorful varieties from countries like Brazil, India and China. In this issue's "Focus on Indian Stone," we see several examples of this, including homes that are using granite in both dark and light tones. Marble slabs have also seen some success for this sector, particularly with the advanced maintenance products and sealers on the market today.
At the same time, the popularity of neutral, beige-toned materials such as Mexican travertine, Jerusalem Stone and Turkish marble (to name a few) have also continued to enjoy popularity in the U.S. marketplace. Like the granite slabs, these materials are playing a key role for residences as well as commercial projects.