November 9,2009 update on "Early Bird for 2009 Materials Outlook Reexamined",
Part (a) 2009 Dimension Stone Demand and Outlook. This will be followed by Part (b) 2009 Bismuth, Graphite, and Indium Outlook, and Part (c) Third Quarter 2009 Trends for Demand and World Demand in 2008 for Dimension Stone.
(a) 2009 Dimension Stone: Statistics: Sales-Related Demand: The Overall Dimension Stone Production-Demand Index based on 100 for 1997 was 365 for 2007, 328 for 2008 (semifinal), and 218 for 2009 (very preliminary). The Demand Index for Granite Countertops based on 100 for 1997 was 1066 in 2007, 948 in 2008, and 601 in 2009 (very preliminary). The Demand Index for Granite and Marble Tile based on 100 for 1997 was 473 in 2007, 429 in 2008, and 285 in 2009 (very preliminary). Results from DSAN Observers (incomplete) in Fall 2009: granite countertops sales down 20% to 35% from 2008, granite and marble tile down 26% from 2008; 2009 domestic granite monument sales down 9% from 2008, 2009 Indiana limestone down 8% from 2008, 2009 slate (domestic) sales down 4% from 2008, and 2009 sandstone down 14% from 2008.
August 15, 2009 update on "Early Bird for 2009 Detailed Outlook"
Newly arrived statistics are suggesting a better outlook for dimension stone and bismuth.
The 2nd Quarter 2009 major statistical components for granite of the overall demand index were up 18% from the 1st Q, and the major components for marble were up 2% from the 1st Q, perhaps indicating a bottoming for the overall demand index. The 2nd Q 2009 component for granite countertop demand was up 18% from the 1st Q. This provides a little comfort after the gloom of the "Early Bird".
For bismuth, new bismuth consumption statistics show that 2008 was down 11% from 2007 (2008 U.S. bismuth imports were down 37% from 2007, as mentioned in the "Early Bird"). 2009 2nd Q U.S. bismuth imports have jumped up 28% from 1st Q imports.
See http://www.basicsmines.com for this "Early Bird"
This blog shows the very latest indexes or data for dimension stone, bismuth, graphite, and indium. It replaces the Pulsetaking issues on http://www.basicsmines.com.
