Brazil sells its stoneware to SA

South African importers of high quality stone, ceramic and non-ferrous metal products should look no further than Brazil, a major player in the global stone industry and one of the largest exporter countries. This was the message from the recent Brasil Trade Mission to South Africa 2009, a threeday event that facilitated meetings between hundreds of exporters and importers from the two countries. “The civil construction production chain is one of the major engines for growth in Brazil. Its rich geodiversity accounted for annual exports of more than 8 million tonnes of granite, slate, quartzite, marble and other natural materials to more than 120 countries,” said a spokesman for the trade mission. “Between 2006 and 2007 the construction chain grew 7.9% compared to the country’s overall growth of 5.4%.” According to the spokesman, Brazil exported US$1.093- million’s worth of stones to more than 120 countries in 2007. The trade mission, aimed at sharing information between Brazilian and South African importers and exporters, also set about building relationships. At least 50 Brazilian companies participated in the mission, which took place at the Sandton Convention Centre earlier this year. According to Apex Brasil, Brazil ranks fourth worldwide in the export of ceramics and has a total production capacity of 698 million square metres of ceramic facings, including flooring, walls, facades and porcelain items.