Marble Industry Faces Longstanding Pressures Amid Market Shifts and Global Tensions
The marble sector in Alicante and broader Valencia remains under stress as demand fluctuates and international conditions weigh on orders. After two years of tentative export growth that suggested a possible recovery, 2023 closed with a further decline of 3.37 percent. The sector continues to grapple with the impact of regional conflicts on Middle Eastern markets, where demand previously held steady. Yet, despite the challenges, the marble industry in Alicante persists as a significant economic driver and seeks sustained support from both regional and local administrations.
The current crisis in the marble trade did not emerge overnight. It has been shaped by evolving construction tastes, where darker hues have grown in popularity over lighter tones that are traditional to Alicante. The arrival of new materials, especially porcelain surfaces, has intensified competition, denting the sector hard. Those tensions are part of a longer trend that has reshaped a once-stable market.
Amid this evolving landscape, another disruption arrived with the pandemic. The market, already fragile, collapsed export volumes from 154 million euros in 2019 to 116 million euros a year later. Although some signs of stabilization appeared in 2021 with 121 million euros in external sales, the subsequent year offered only a slight increase. By 2023, the trend changed again, with foreign sales holding at 117.6 million euros, signaling that the industry had not fully returned to pre-crisis levels.
One underlying reason cited by industry leaders is the ongoing conflict in the Red Sea region. The president of the Alicante Marble Association, Luis Horcajuelo, points to disruptions across markets in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and even Egypt. In a climate where maritime routes have been altered due to attacks on merchant shipping, travel times lengthen and costs rise, leading some customers to cancel orders. This sobering reality underscores the vulnerability of a sector that relies heavily on international logistics and global demand. (Citation: Mármol Alicante Association)
Despite the less favorable outlook, the marble industry refuses to concede defeat. It continues to emphasize its importance as a regional employer and economic contributor. In the Valencian Community, the sector supports a substantial workforce: hundreds of companies generate thousands of direct jobs and contribute hundreds of millions of euros in turnover. In Alicante province alone, hundreds of companies provide nearly two thousand direct positions, with regional revenue reaching hundreds of millions of euros. These figures illustrate that the marble industry remains a robust source of regional wealth. (Citation: Mármol Alicante Association)
Voices from the sector call for stronger policy backing from government bodies. There have been discussions with regional leadership to share the realities of the marble industry and to push for more effective support in terms of regulatory clarity and local resource management, including quarry operations crucial for sustainable supply. The appeal is for a coordinated approach that helps stabilize procurement, logistics, and market access, especially for smaller producers who form the backbone of the Alicante corridor. (Citation: Mármol Alicante Association)