Brazil, Part III

This is the last article of a series of three about the stone industry in Brazil. After presenting an extended retrospective of the sector published in the September and January issues of Stone Business, we close with an overview of the government agencies and associations created to support interest of the industry internally and externally.

By Roseli Perrone

What is amazing about the Brazilian economy, in general, is the ability to absorb new technologies and to respond quickly to the new demands of the national and international markets. Whether it’s in the fashion, chemical or communication sectors, the phenomenon is similar to all of them: Brazilians see, learn, import or recreate technologies and/or tendencies, and make it available in a creative and fashionable matter.
Brazil’s granite industry follows the same course. In the past, it consisted of mostly small- to medium-sized businesses, run by families not necessarily looking for modernization and new opportunities. Day-to-day work followed the same pattern: supply the internal market with polished slabs and export stone blocks – mainly to their loyal buying partner, Italy.
That business cycle began to change in the past decade, as the next generation of family owners becomes more-educated and eager to grow their businesses. That’s led to an adaptation of new technologies for extraction, sawing and polishing.
Today, the Brazilian granite industry is well-organized, competitive, alert to the rapid growth of consumption in the world, and aware of their responsibility to establish high levels of production in order to keep to themselves what belongs to themselves.

GOVERNMENT
Brazilian authorities have in place a few agencies directly involved with the granite and marble industries. Here are two important ones for the development of new products and extraction.
Under the Ministry of Mine and Energy is
DNPM – National Department of Mineral Production, which takes the responsibility for the registration and procedures for research and extraction of all quarries in Brazil, and it’s subdivided into districts for each state. To learn more about mining code, exploration, permits etc, visit www.dnpm.gov.br/dnpmeng1.html.
Under the Ministry of Science and Technology is
CETEM – Center of Mineral Technology, responsible for the execution of research and subsequent technical testes of samples. You can visit www.mct.gov.br or www.cetem.gov.br/html/index.html.
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ASSOCIATIONS
ABIROCHAS – Brazilian Association for the Stone Industry – it’s the traditional association for all stone industries in Brazil, at www.abirochas.com.br.
ABIEMG – Brazilian Association of Export Industries of Marble and Granite – recently created by an important group of granite and marble fabricators of Brazil with mutual interest in the international market. The most-important factor inside ABIEMG’s statute is proof of quality. These companies are very engaged with the international standards of quality of the product, and aware of the architecture tendencies in different parts of the world.
In a recent interview with José Gilberto Sibin of Emigran Granites, who currently serves as president of ABIEMG, he noted that the association was very busy in lobbying the Brazilian government to decrease import duties for machinery, in order to improve the industrial capabilities of the Brazilian sector. The association also is working closely with other government agencies to help Brazilian companies guarantee payment from international buyers. (Visit www.abiemgs.com.br for list of associates and more.)

TRADE SHOWS
International Marble and Granite Fair
Local organizers Milanez & Milaneze take advantage of the highly concentrated quarries and fabricators in the state of Espirito Santo, to create an opportunity for national and international business people to see closely where and what Brazil is producing. See www.milanezmilaneze.com.br for more details on the two events being held each year.

REVESTIR – Brazilian Tile and Stone Exhibition
Previously held as Stone South America and organized by VNU, the event encompassed the stone industry in all Latin America and drew a large amount of international business. This year, the organizers decided to bring together the tile industry as well to the Transamerica Expo Center in São Paulo. Both associations, – ABIEMG for stone exports and ANFACER for tile exports – are sponsoring the show with VNU. More info can be requested at stone@vnu.com.br.
Roseli Perrone is an editor and marketing specialist who has worked extensively with U.S. and Brazilian markets for the graphics industries, information technology and the stone industry

This article first appeared in the February 2003 print edition of Stone Business. ©2003 Western Business Media Inc.