The market for marble - Germany

1.1 Scope of the study

Marble is a natural stone that has been put on a pedestal for centuries for its beauty, durability, and versatility. The use of marble ranges from architecture to sculpture and interior design. The marble market is driven by the building and construction, historic preservation, decorative arts, and furniture manufacturing industries. Global marble demand is expected to rise in the coming years for two reasons: the global construction and infrastructure investments increase and demand for high-quality building materials rises. Besides, art and decoration, as well as luxury home and office interiors, are two types of demand that are increasing and therefore contribute to driving the market.

Foreign competition is increasing, especially from countries such as China, India, and Turkey, which are entering the market with much lower production costs. The global market leaders are Lotte Advanced Materials Co. Ltd (South Korea), DuPont de Nemours Inc (US), LG Hausys (South Korea), and Marmil S.A. (Greece).

The sector is fulfilled with regulations and juridic standards, and it involves many different firms and businesses from the industry, from the European level of physical material testing to the regional level of quarry management.

Looking at the foreign trade balance, it is obvious that foreign trade has fluctuated significantly. Between 2015 and 2020, imports outweighed exports. However, when looking back at 2021 and 2022, there is a trend toward higher domestic production, which is reflected in a lower trade deficit.

An important trend in the marble sector is the increasing demand for artificial marble, which is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.2% by 2030.

This study will focus on the different aspects of the marble value chain, from the extraction and production of raw blocks to the manufacturing of marble objects and home furnishings. We will take a deeper look into key market trends, growth drivers, and challenges, and conduct a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape and regulatory environment to gain an in-depth understanding of the French marble market.