The investment boom is favourable for Polish natural stones. The extraction, processing and application of both hard stones as well as sandstones, marbles and limestone largely increased in 2010. We should not be too optimistic, though. The time of prosperity has weak foundations and we cannot take advantage of this time without a wise strategy concerning the quarries.

 

At the first weekend in September Strzegom hosted  two important events related with stone industry: the Polish-wide stone festival (Ogólnopolski Festyn Kamienia) organised on Saturday and Sunday by Strzegom-based stone companies and the Town Council and the stone congress (Kongres Kamieniarski) organised by the Association of the Stone Industry Employers.

 

How can we describe stone industry in Masovian province? It is a difficult task because of the domination of Warsaw metropolis. Most stone works, not only in Masovia, but in the whole Poland, is concentrated there.  On the other hand, however, stone works in Warsaw are carried out by many companies from other provinces. When we speak about the market of stone companies in Masovia, we mean, most of all, Warsaw and the towns nearby, where the most prestigious projects, both for individual customers and for institutions, are carried out. But the stone companies which specialise in construction stone industry are usually located outside Warsaw. At the same time, however, Warsaw is a seat for as many as 200 hundred stone companies. Many of them are Polish-wide enterprises and representatives of foreign companies.

Autumn 2008 was the time when the beginning of the recession was announced. Stone industry in Poland was managing very well with it for more than a year. And then a strange year 2010 came... The symptoms of some changes always come first to the intermediaries – wholesalers of blocks and slabs – and this report is about them. First six months of this year brought serious changes in contracting slabs and blocks and, most of all, a huge decrease in popular stones. Before we analyse the year 2010, in order to find out the causes of the current events, we need to go several months back.

49 stone companies have already benefitted from the EU funds dedicated to support business. In total, so far the stone industry has received grants worth over 42 million PLN which come from the European Union funds and from the state budget. In terms of regions, Dolnośląskie, Świętokrzyskie and Lubelskie are the leaders.

An interview with Anurag Taparia, the vice-president of Alliance Minerals company

Adriana Bajno, „Świat Kamienia”: We are now at Stona fair in Bangalore. What do you think about this fair?

Anurag Taparia: This is the largest stone fair in India. The organisers have given it a good facelift by hosting it at a bigger and better location this year. The exhibitors are positive and optimistic as regards the expectations concerning the year 2010.