With increasing demand in international markets, coupled with domestic demand from construction projects arising from the Beijing Olympics, Shanghai World Expo and the "Go West" programmed, demand for stone in China is set to soar this year.

 

Demand for building materials from international markets in 2007 is keen. Europe, the US, Japan and the Middle East are the major "battlegrounds" for stone. Global stone transactions have seen sustained growth in the last five years and the trend is expected to continue this year. Demand of the US for stone is estimated to reach 900,000 tones this year. Japan, as one of the largest consumption markets in the world, relies almost entirely on import for granite and marble.

 

In the China market, as a result of construction of stadiums and facilities for the Olympics and urban development projects, Beijing will be the hot spot for construction in the country, with the total value of stone production, consumption and related costs exceeding Rmb30 billion. In Shanghai, annual consumption of stone amounts to 20 million sum, to the tune of Rmb6 billion. The Shanghai World Expo is set to boost demand further. As for the "Go West" programmed, the construction of six major airports, hotels and supporting commercial infrastructure will bring about strong demand for stone materials.