The improving living standards of the Chinese people have resulted in a boom of decoration businesses, which has made China the largest stone material producer and consumer in the world.
Last year, China's consumption of stone materials reached 100 million square meters, the largest in the world. Its production ofstone materials also ranked first in the world in 2001, with the total output value exceeding 100 billion yuan (US$12.05 billion).
According to industry sources, China's import and export of stone materials amounted to US$1.4 billion last year,an increase of 15 percent from the previous year. This makes the country the world's second largest exporter and fifth largest importer of stone products.
Xiamen Port handled more than two thirds of China's stone product imports and exports in 2001.
China's stone processing enterprises are concentrated in Guangdong and Fujian provinces.
(Xinhua News Agency April 01, 2002)
