RSSOrganisers of StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas, the most important exhibition in North America dedicated to the natural stone sector, says there are encouraging signals from the US market after the recent ninth edition of the event.
The US residential market is expanding (+25% in new projects for 2014 according to National Association of House Builders/NAHB estimates) and is keen to purchase natural stone made in Italy. In the first ten months of 2013, processed and finished marble and natural stone goods were shipped across the Atlantic worth €298 million, up 29% over 2012 (source: Marmomacc Observatory based on Istat statistics), and there was also a positive trend for Italian exports of machinery and equipment (+9% in the third quarter 2013).
Organised by Hanley Wood in collaboration with Veronafiere and the involvement of Confindustria Marmomacchine of Italy, StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas also highglighted the performance by the Italian marble quarrying and processing machinery and equipment industry where the United States ranking as fifth importer, totalling €41 million in the third quarter 2013, up by 9% over the previous year (source: Confindustria Marmomacchine Business Centre).
"The USA in terms of business volumes is the leading outlet market in the world for the Italian processed stone materials. With StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas, Veronafiere ensures an important presence in this fundamental market, helping companies find important contracts and exporting technical know-how thanks to the training courses organised by Marmomacc Stone Academy. And after success in Las Vegas this year the appointment also doubles up on the East Coast at Miami Beach, 19-22 October 2014,” says Ettore Riello, president of Veronafiere.
StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas, together with Surfaces, the leading American exhibition dedicated to flooring and surfaces, this year attracted 694 companies and more than 29,800 visitors (+6,5%) from all over the world, over a occupied area of more than 106,000m².
The edition at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas was further enhanced by partnership with the Stone Fabricator’s Alliance, an organisation representing operators in building industry and restoration sectors from all over the world.
“The International Surface Event 2014 was one of the strongest in recent history.” says Dana Teague, vice president of Hanley Wood. "Over 80% of the show has already re-signed for the 2015 event which will be co-dated with the International Builders Show, the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show and the Las Vegas Market and we have tremendous interest in the recently launched event which will be in Miami Beach in October 2014.”
