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Stone fabrication shops are investing more in marketing than ever before. The spend is real and, in many cases, producing real activity at the top of the funnel. But somewhere between the first click and the closed job, the handoff breaks down.

U.S. exports of natural stone and building stone products fell to $12.8 million in March 2026, a 22.2 percent decline from the $16.4 million shipped in March 2025, according to data from the U.S. International Trade Commission. Canada remained the dominant buyer by a wide margin, taking in $8.5 million, or 66.6 percent of all stone exports for the month, though shipments to the country fell 23.2 percent year over year. The U.S. counted 49 active export destinations in March, with Mexico, Italy and the Bahamas rounding out the top buyers behind Canada.

With nearly three decades in the stone fabrication business, Glenda Henneboehle, president of Stone Fabricators, leads her team with confidence and has built a reputable fabrication operation.

Tips on how to follow market trends and use them to make informed decisions. 

MSI hosted a Stone Industry Education event that included panel discussions on trends, shop safety and technical issues and solutions.

U.S. countertop material imports totaled $275.5 million in March 2026, a 23.6% decline from March 2025.

The Stone Fabricators Alliance is in its 13th year of leading fabricators through Italy on its annual tour, and the work behind it never really stops, said Tim Zeng, an SFA executive board director and owner of Zeng Countertops & Surfaces in Lincoln, NE.

The Latin American Fabricators Network made its first appearance at Coverings 2026, using the show's Fabricator Stage to introduce a grassroots organization aimed at giving Latino stone fabricators a seat at the industry table.

Warm tones, natural looks and muted finishes are among the current trends in stone design.

The result was a narrowing of the U.S. stone trade imbalance, though it remained vast at 21 to 1, with the country importing $230.3 million in countertop materials against the $11.2 million it shipped out. Canada remained the dominant destination by a wide margin, receiving nearly $8 million in stone products, or roughly 71% of all U.S. exports.