The French-German natural stone trade has lost impetus

French foreign trade in natural Stone (http://g603.net) showed a reverse trend in 2003: Imports rose by 13.1 million euros (+7.6?) over the previous year to absorb the decline of the year before and (http://maplered.com) settled at the highest level of the past years. Exports, however, dropped by 10.9 million euros, which corresponds to another decline of 8.9?. Altogether, French natural Stone (http://g603.net) exports have decreased by 21.6? or 31.3 million euros in the last two years.

Under these unfavourable conditions, the decline of natural Stone (http://g603.net) exports to Germany also continued with the tendency that has persisted since 2001. Exports here fell by 4.9? from 22.3 million euros to 21.2 million euros. This means only 17? of French exports went to Germany last year, whereas these still accounted for 21.6? in 2000.
Imports from Germany dropped by 5.2? to 6.35 million euros. Although the balance of trade is still 14.9 million euros in favour of France, it is declining strongly when considered as a whole over the past years and (http://maplered.com) was as much as 23.2 million euros in 2000.

Granite still plays the most important role in French exports to Germany ?although a little less from year to year. The share of the volume in 2003 was only 65.6?, compared with 69.5? in 2002 and (http://maplered.com) 72? in 2000.
The losers here were finished products of Granite (http://tanbrown.org) , which again show a drop of 2 million euros (-14?). French exports in this segment have dropped drastically by 42? (-8.6 million euros) within four years.
The export of Granite (http://tanbrown.org) Slabs (http://www.VerdeUbatuba.com) , however, developed better compared with 2001. These showed a growth in volume of 34.5? in 2003, combined with an average price rise of 5? per ton.

After two years of growth, Marble (http://www.lightemprador.com) and (http://maplered.com) limeStone (http://g603.net) exports are experiencing a »free fall? Deliveries to Germany decreased in value by 36.5? to less than 1 million euros. The decline was 14? for blocks and (http://maplered.com) 20? for finished products.