Polski
Stone by the numbers and under the microscope: Italian exports rise, engineered stone raises health concerns
This week in the stone industry brings two very different signals. On one hand, solid data show that the natural stone market and its processing technologies keep growing; on the other, a widely discussed medical study is a reminder that technological progress must go hand in hand with workplace safety. Here's what both stories mean for the Polish industry.
01 · Exports & Market
Italian stone and machinery exports drive the global market
The Italian stone industry is having a very strong 2026. According to data from the Confindustria Marmomacchine Studies Centre, in the first five months of the year exports of stone materials as well as stone-working machinery and tools rose by 5.1% year on year, reaching around USD 1.36 billion [1]. Interestingly, export growth was accompanied by a 6.5% drop in imports, meaning Italy is further strengthening its position as a net exporter in this industry.
The strongest growth came from block stone and slabs – marble, travertine and granite – which gained as much as 8.9%. The main buyers turned out to be China and the United States, confirming that demand for high-quality natural stone is still being driven by large investment and construction markets [1].
For Polish companies – manufacturers of stone products, machinery importers or tool distributors – this data is an important point of reference. If Italian giants of stone-processing technology are increasing their exports, it's a sign that global demand for modernizing machinery fleets and investing in new production lines is growing. That's good news for Polish stone workshops too, whether they compete with or work alongside suppliers from Italy.
02 · Health & Regulations
Silicosis returns to the debate: engineered stone under scientific scrutiny
The second topic of the week is far less optimistic. On September 21, 2026, the Canadian Medical Association Journal published a case report on a worker who, after ten years of working with engineered (quartz) stone, developed irreversible silicosis. The patient is now awaiting a lung transplant [2].
The study's authors don't stop at describing the case – they call for regulatory reform that would include mandatory medical monitoring of workers exposed to silica dust while processing engineered stone countertops and slabs. They also point out that Australia has gone further and has already imposed a complete ban on the material [2].
This is an issue that could sooner or later reach Europe as well. Quartz countertops are now standard in many kitchens and bathrooms, and processing them – cutting, grinding, polishing – generates huge amounts of crystalline silica dust. If the Australian precedent and increasingly vocal scientists translate into regulatory changes in the EU, it will affect stone workshops working with engineered materials, manufacturers of ventilation and dust-extraction systems, and the whole logic of material selection in architectural projects. It's worth following this topic now, before regulations get ahead of the industry's preparedness.
Summary
Summary
This week shows two sides of the same industry: a growing, dynamic market for natural stone and its processing technologies, and a reminder that workplace safety with engineered materials demands constant attention. Both stories – export expansion and the debate over worker health – will be talked about in the hallways of the Stone Poland – International Stone and Stone Machinery Fair. Join us to exchange experiences with machinery manufacturers, natural stone suppliers and workplace safety experts – it's the best place to stay up to date on the trends genuinely shaping the industry.
Invitation
Growing stone and machinery exports, alongside an increasingly loud debate over workplace safety with engineered stone, are topics worth discussing in person with industry experts. Visit Stone Poland – International Stone and Stone Machinery Fair, where you'll meet machinery manufacturers, natural stone suppliers and worker health specialists. Join the conversation about the future of the stone industry in Poland and around the world.
Stone Poland 2026Footnotes
[1] Marmo Macchine International — https://www.marmomacchineinternational.com/en/the-italian-stone-industry-exports-up-5-1in-the-first-5-months-of-2026/[2] News-Medical.net (via CMAJ) — https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260921/Engineered-stone-countertops-linked-to-severe-silicosis.aspx