Greece ranks second in Europe in marble production and exports

Greece ranks second in Europe in terms of marble production and the marketing of marble products. More than 80% of the country’s marble output is exported, with 73% of those exports originating from northern Greece.

Industry representatives say marble is one of the sustainable building materials and that Greece has vast underground reserves with very strong characteristics. However, a number of challenges continue to cloud the outlook for the sector.

The negative impact of trade and geopolitical conflicts on Greece’s marble exports, compounded by long-standing domestic structural problems, is reflected in export data for the 2015-2025 period as well as first-half 2026 results. Marble companies say the sector is undergoing a strategic restructuring and export repositioning, while calling on the government to urgently address chronic problems that are holding back its growth.
 

Marble exports 2015-2025

The highest level of marble exports was recorded in 2018, when their value exceeded €315 million and volumes reached 813,000 tonnes. The lowest point came in 2015, when exports were worth €183.3 million and totalled 527,700 tonnes.

The 2015-2018 period was broadly strong, supported by high demand, particularly from China, one of the sector’s main export destinations. 2019 marked a turning point, as the US-China trade war weighed on Greek marble exports to China, which fell 9% in value and 19% in volume. The COVID-19 pandemic compounded the difficulties in 2020.

2021 provided a modest recovery, but exports entered another downward phase during 2022-2025.

2025 was a particularly challenging year for Greek marble exports, as weaker demand amid international trade and geopolitical disruptions led to a setback for the sector. In the first nine months of 2025, Greece’s total marble exports amounted to €219.1 million, while export volumes reached 549,400 tonnes. For the full year, Greek marble exports stood at €270 million, a level that appears increasingly difficult to reach this year.

In the first half of 2026, Eurostat data analysed by Stonenews paint a mixed picture. The total value of exports fell by a notable 10.29% to €123.21 million, from €137.34 million in the same period of 2025.

In volume terms, marble exports reached 343,060 tonnes in the first half of 2026, broadly unchanged from the same period last year. However, the average price per tonne declined, while exports of processed marble, which commands higher added value, also fell.

The impact of conflict in the Middle East was also significant in the first half of 2026. Sales of Greek marble to the United Arab Emirates fell by 50% year-on-year, while the decline in sales to Qatar, Bahrain and Oman was even steeper, reaching 70%.

 

New markets

Against this backdrop, the concentration of marble exports in five markets — China, Algeria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Cyprus — highlights the need for greater geographical diversification to reduce vulnerability to external shocks, as well as for a strategic repositioning of Greek export production towards higher-value products that are more resilient to external fluctuations.

In terms of geographical diversification, Algeria has already recorded its second-highest export value of the past 11 years. Exports to Egypt have also recorded continuous growth in value over the past three years. Tunisia remains a stable, mid-sized destination, while exports to Italy have increased significantly over the past two years.

India, meanwhile, recorded the second-highest performance of the period in both value and volume terms. Between the first quarters of 2025 and 2026, the value of exports to India increased by 63.88%, while volumes rose by 31.94%.

The development is particularly significant, indicating that India is not merely a market capable of absorbing large volumes, but one where Greek marble can pursue stronger commercial positioning, higher added value and more systematic links with technical, architectural and investment circles.

 

Source: www.naftemporiki.gr