The marble export from the country can cross $100 million level annually in two years if the government assures the sector of regular power and gas supply during production hours.The export of all kinds of marble products during July-December 2013 increased by 57 percent to $37.24 million as against $23.66 million during the corresponding period last year on back of better quality products and increase in demand from Middle East and other countries, said All Pakistan Marble Mining Processing Industry and Exporters Association (APMMPIEA) Chairman Sanaullah Khan on Friday.
Export to Dubai and other Middle East countries including Saudi Arab increased manifold as compared to export to USA and European nations.US, Italy and Middle East countries were among the major buyers and our export to Middle Eastern countries, of which Dubai is the major importer, has more than doubled as compared to export to USA and European countries.
This is due to 200 percent increase in demand besides prompt and early shipment of container service to Middle East countries, he added.
USA is eyeing Swat district, Bajaur agencies and North Waziristan areas where we have million tonnes of deposit of marble and chromite.
This is a black-coloured stone and contains around 55 percent steel properties and is used in steel and tank making, he added.
Khan said China is the largest importer of chromite, “It is exported to China at Rs 40 per kilogramme (kg), but due to disturbance in the tribal areas our export has been hit hard.”
We also have deposits of chromite in Balochistan but these are not of the quality we have in Bajaur Agency and Swat area.
He said presently export orders of marble products including tiles and slabs to Middle East, USA, China, Italy, Hong Kong and South Korea are in the pipeline.
Demand from India alone is around more than $1 million every month as India possesses granite but not marble. He said global trade in marble and granite is estimated at $43 billion annually.
We have export orders worth millions of dollars from USA, Italy, China, India, Middle East, South Korea, Hong Kong and EU countries but power outages make it difficult to complete orders in time, he added.
He said the industry growth rate over the last three years has averaged 30 percent, primarily on account of reconstruction activities in Middle East and Afghanistan.
He said mining and quarry sector contributes nearly 0.6 percent to Pakistan’s gross domestic product (GDP) with an estimated value addition of more than Rs 16.5 billion.
Marble and granite are among the major minerals extracted in Pakistan after coal, rock salt, limestone and China clay.
He said Italy, USA and China have shown keen interest in determining Pakistan marble and granite reserves in view of growing world’s consumption.
He said due to quality of marble in the country, president Italy Marble Association Cesare Bellamoli appreciated the quality of Pakistan marble and expressed his desire to work with Pakistani entrepreneurs to fully develop Pakistan’s marble sector.
Source:- dailytimes.com.pk
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