By Maria Ve

 

 

Greece has always been a marble - oriented country and well known for the superiority of its marbles, together with the great history behind them.

 

It is said that the Greeks have been brought up “among the marbles”, carrying in their eyes timeless images of marble sculptures, statues and architectural masterpieces.

 

The word marble immediately takes shape upon hearing it, referring to the Parthenon, the Venus of Milos, the Caryatids, Delphi and so on.

 

Periods of prosperity

 

Greek marble has seen periods of prosperity, mainly due to the export orientation of Greek marble companies, which assisted in gaining international recognition.

 

However, the advent of the pandemic and the energy crisis have affected the industry negatively in the recent years.

 

That is why Greek companies are now looking for new markets and opportunities, including South Korea, due to the large volume of construction.

 

According to data from the Macedonia - Thrace Marble Business Association, the contribution of the marble industry to the local and national economy is estimated at 1.27 billion euros per year, with 76% of production exported to more than 120 countries worldwide.

 

At the same time, the companies in the marble sector have managed to place Greek marble to 4th from 7th place in Greek exports, over the last 10 years, tripling the sector's exports.

 

Falling demand for exports

 

According to data from the Association of Mining Enterprises (SME), the production of marble products in 2020 fell by 25%, compared to 2019. This decline in production is largely due to falling demand for exports. 

 

In 2021, the sector experienced a rebound as the Greek marble industry recorded a 25% increase in exports compared to 2020.

 

We should mention that China is the 1st export destination for Greek raw marble, accounting for 73.48% in 2021, followed by Algeria with 8.55% and Egypt with 4.26%. 

 

As far as Greek processed marble is concerned, the No. 1 export destination in 2021 was the UAE (10.51%), followed by China with 9.91% and the USA with 6.36%.

 

However, this year it is estimated as a more moderate year for Greek marble in comparison to 2021, especially in rough marble.