Commercial Characterization

On the commercial point of view, dimension stones are basically classified into granites and marbles, which makes up approximately 90% of the world production. Slates, quartzites, soapstone, serpentinites, basalts and natural clusters also distinguish themselves within their sectors.

International prices average for marbles and granites blocks ranges between US$ 400 to US$ 1,200/m3, while the final product’s average price ranges from US$ 30 to US$ 60/m2. The chromatic standard is the main attribute considered for a stone commercial qualification.

As dimensional materials, therefore employed in volume, dimension stones have a very significant commercial value in face of other mineral raw materials. The comparative table of its value in weight relatively to iron and gold ores, which are mineral commodities very well known and important on the Brazilian production and exportation list, is shown below and allows to picture this issue: ver tabela

Observing the dimension stones prices average on the domestic and external market, one can see that the aggregation of value rate on the blocks sale is equivalent to threefold its production cost. On the external market, the commercial transactions brought by polished plates generate a revenue three to four times higher, per cubic meter, than the sale of blocks. The sale of final products, on the other hand, allows to generate a revenue six to ten times higher, per cubic meter, than the sale of blocks.