Institute of Geology, Karelian Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Petrozavodsk, Russia:

V. A. Shekov, Deputy Director of Scientific Work, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, shekov@krc.karelia.ru

The Karelian stone industry is described against the background of trends in the global production of facing stone. General data on the dimension stone industry in the world, in the countries–top stone producers and in neighbor Finland are presented. An attempt is made to try to estimate development prospects of the stone industry in Karelia against the background of advancement of this industry in the world and in some countries–leading stone producers. The international stone industry is discussed generally. It is specified that, despite all crises and local economic problems in some countries, the stone industry enjoys sustainable development with continuous increase in output of building stone products. In addition, information is given on the stone industry in the countries—historically top stone producers, namely, Italy, Spain, India and Brazil. A new although meaningful event in the stone market is new players spurring progression in the industry, the chief player being China. Specific features of stone export and import in this country are described, and it is speculated why the Chinese stone industry leans to the import of stone from Turkey and India. The resource base and geological conditions on the Fenno-Scandinavian Shield, namely, in Finland — the nearest neighbor of the Republic of Karelia, are discussed. It is shown that the Finnish industry stably produces limited volume of stone materials although the resource base of the country is sufficient to provide a much wider range of stone grades. Based on the information on the stone industry in the world and in separate areas of the Earth, the development prospects of the stone industry in the Republic of Karelia in the current economic environment are estimated in terms of the local market demands and international market outlook. Efforts to be undertaken to strengthen position of Karelia in the dimension stone market.

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