Web Exclusive: Indian Stone in the U.S. -- a look at the last five years

Exports of Indian granite to the U.S. have increased dramatically over the past five years, and the material has been a popular choice for kitchen designs. For this residence, Kashmir Gold granite countertops from India were combined with travertine. Stone Supplier: Floor & Décor, Tenafly, NJ

For quite some time, India has enjoyed a position as a world leader in the international stone industry and a top supplier to the U.S. market. And over the past five years, India's stone producers have worked to increase the presence of Indian stone in the U.S., where it is a popular choice for residential and commercial projects in a broad range of materials and applications.

According to the Centre for Development of Stones (CDOS) in Jaipur, India, more than 31 million tons of stone are produced in India each year. The organization also reports that India is the third largest exporter of stone in the world, behind China and Italy.

Indian granites are being specified for a broad range of kitchen and bathroom designs -- from sleek modern decors to traditional "Tuscan" kitchens, such as this motif completed with Kashmir Gold granite countertops. Stone Supplier: Chicago Granite & Marble, Franklin Park, IL

In the U.S. marketplace, imports of Indian stone have risen steadily over the past five years, with the exception of 2007. According to figures released by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. imported $139.69 million worth of stone from India in 2003 -- an all-time high at the time. By 2006, that total more than doubled to reach a figure of $287.13 million. Last year, Indian stone exports to the U.S. were poised to once again reach a record total, but American market declines during the second half of 2007 resulted in a year-end figure of $268.38 million -- about 6.5% down from the previous year.

Indian granites in shades of white and tan, such as Kashmir White, have also been popular for residential projects in the U.S. Stone Supplier: Stone-Tec, Garland, TX

For the first quarter of 2008, U.S. imports of stone from India dropped 7% when compared to the same period in 2007 (when the market was still strong), and while no dramatic decreases are forecast for the remainder of the year, a complete rebound also appears to be unlikely this year. Based on first-quarter figures, the U.S. projects to import $238.78 million worth of stone from India in 2008 (an 11% decline from 2007), although this figure is obviously subject to change over the course of the year.

But even with these declines in mind, India remains a vital stone supplier to the U.S. market. It ranks as the fourth leading exporter of granite to the U.S-. - behind Brazil, China and Italy. India is also a major exporter of slate to the U.S.; it exported more slate to the U.S. than any other nation over the past five years, although it was second to China in 2007.

Exports of Indian slate to the U.S. have also grown steadily over the past five years, and the material is being employed for both commercial and residential applications. Stone Supplier: Wm. Erath & Son, Copiague, NY

Granite and the residential sector

As expected, the majority of stone exported from India to the U.S. is granite. And given the explosive growth in granite kitchen countertops, much of the granite being brought into the U.S. is in slab format.

Fitting homeowner preferences for material in tones of gold, tan, beige, off-white, green and other earth tones, Indian granites are being specified for a broad range of kitchen and bathroom designs -- from sleek modern decors to traditional "Tuscan" kitchens.

Virtually all stone showrooms include Indian granite as a staple of their collections, and new materials are continually being introduced to the marketplace.

Tiles of Indian slate are also being employed as building cladding, such as the Kota Brown slate used for this branch of the San Jose Library in California. Stone Supplier: Echeguren Slate, San Francisco, CA

U.S. imports of Indian granite grew from a value of $97.26 million in 2003 to a record high of $220.29 million in 2006. Last year, that total dipped to $204.07 million, and granite imports for the first quarter of 2008 look to be down about 10% from the same period a year ago.

Still, even if declines continue as expected, the use of Indian granite is still far more than it was only three years ago.

While granite and slate comprise most of the Indian stone imports into the U.S., other materials such as marble have also played a significant role in the American market. In general, Indian marble has been used for residential and light commercial applications in the U.S., such as this Jain Center in Queens, NY, and popular colors are typically shades of green, white and tan. Stone Supplier: Lotus Exim International, Inc., Elmwood Park, NJ

Indian slate

The second-leading stone export from India to the U.S. is slate, the bulk of which is in a tile format. Slate from India is being used for a wide variety of flooring applications, from retail interiors to residential patios. The material is often employed with a natural cleft finish, and its earth tones are favored for a range of design styles. Also adding visual interest, the stone is being offered in a range of tile formats, from standard 12- x 12-inch tiles to larger sizes of 24 x 24 inches to random patterns.

In addition to floors, tiles of Indian slate are being employed as building cladding -- including some prominent civil projects -- and they are sometimes being adhered to building exteriors using adhesives rather than mechanical fastening.

Over the past five years, slate imports increased from $31.21 million in 2003 to $47.31 million in 2007 (down about 10% from an all-time high of $52.42 million in 2006).

One of the highest profile applications of Indian sandstone in recent years can be found in San Diego, CA, where 150,000 square feet of "Padre Gold" sandstone was used for Petco Park, home to baseball's San Diego Padres. Stone Supplier: Stone A.V. USA, Inc., of Plano, TX and Modern Builders Supply

Other materials

While granite and slate comprise most of the Indian stone imports into the U.S., other materials have also played a significant role in the American market. These include marble, sandstone and quartzite.

Annual exports of Indian marble to the U.S. have hovered between a value of $10.5 million and $12 million over the past five years. In general, Indian marble has been used for residential and light commercial applications in the U.S., and popular colors are typically shades of green, white and tan.

In terms of large-scale architectural projects, Indian sandstone has been making some serious inroads in the U.S. over the past few years, particularly in the Southwestern region of the country. Major architectural firms have relied on the tan and rust shades of Indian sandstone to reflect the surrounding environments of landmark projects in the Southwest.

Indian sandstone has been particularly popular in the Southwest. At the Tucson Airport in Arizona, the design included 40,000 square feet of Rainbow sandstone. Stone Supplier: Southland Stone USA, Inc., North Hollywood, CA

In Arizona, two fairly recent projects have utilized sandstone from India. These included the Tucson Airport, which utilized 40,000 square feet of Rainbow sandstone supplied through Southland Stone USA, Inc. of North Hollywood, CA; and the Phoenix Convention Center, which called for 35,000 square feet of three different Indian sandstone varieties supplied through Tab India/Amsum & Ash of Minneapolis, MN.

Perhaps one of the highest profile applications of Indian sandstone in recent years can be found in San Diego, CA. When baseball's San Diego Padres built a new stadium, renowned architect Antoine Predock selected Indian sandstone as exterior cladding. The architect noted that the material, which was named "Padre Gold," recalled the Torrey Pines cliffs of the San Diego coastline. In all, 150,000 square feet of sandstone from India was specified, and it was supplied through Stone A.V. USA, Inc., of Plano, TX and Modern Builders Supply. The ballpark opened to widespread praise, and in addition to sports fans, it has drawn industry interest in the form of a study tour conducted by the Building Stone Institute and a number of industry design awards.

The Phoenix Convention Center in Arizona utilized 35,000 square feet of three different Indian sandstone varieties. Stone Supplier: Tab India/Amsum & Ash, Minneapolis, MN

Tables

Total U.S. Imports of Stone from India

2003 - $139.69 million
2004 - $205.82 million
2005 - $242.75 million
2006 - $287.13 million
2007 - $268.38 million

U.S. Imports of Granite from India

2003 - $97.26 million - 262,090 tons
2004 - $152.68 million - 367,359 tons
2005 - $181.64 million - 454,676 tons
2006 - $220.29 million - 602,907 tons
2007 - $204.07 million - 417,508 tons

U.S. Imports of Slate from India*

2003 - $31.21 million
2004 - $39.99 million
2005 - $47.54 million
2006 - $52.42 million
2007 - $47.31 million

* Slate tonnage figures unavailable

U.S. Imports of Marble from India

2003 - $10.44 million - 23,958 tons
2004 - $12.26 million - 12,279 tons
2005 - $11.43 million - 12,994 tons
2006 - $12.08 million - 19,962 tons
2007 - $9.84 million - 8,937 tons

* Portion of 2007 decline may represent classification shift of stone products from "Marble" category to "Other" category

U.S. Imports of "Other" Stone from India
(sandstone, quartzite, etc.)