Blocks are where the growth is
Between January and September 2026, Turkish exporters shipped 2.6 million tonnes of raw marble and travertine blocks worth $546 million. That is 22% more value than a year earlier, while processed marble — still the largest category — slipped 5%. Buyers abroad increasingly want the raw stone and process it themselves.
China is back, India keeps climbing
China, the largest buyer of Turkish marble blocks, added $66 million of purchases in the first nine months of 2026 — the biggest increase of any country — after two weaker years. July 2026 was China's strongest month in four years. India, the second-largest block market, grew 16% in value and 18% in volume.
Highlighted: the two largest block-buying markets. China and India buy mostly raw blocks, at around $185–250 per tonne; the US mostly buys processed stone at over $600 per tonne.
Biggest movers this year
Growth was concentrated in a few markets. Italy, home of the world's best-known stone processors, grew 23% and is paying more per tonne for higher-quality blocks. Several Gulf and Central Asian markets cooled sharply.
Rising
Falling
What it means for block buyers
- 1Blocks are outpacing finished stone. Block exports grew 22% while processed marble fell 5%, so well-cut, sound blocks can sell out faster.
- 2Inspection matters more than ever. With more buyers competing, checking each block at the quarry before you pay is the safest way to get the quality you expect.
- 3Quality earns a premium. The average price per tonne rose from $225 to $249 for China and from $472 to $538 for Italy.
Source: Istanbul Mineral Exporters' Association (İMİB), mineral export statistics by country and product group, 2023–2026; FOB values. 2026 figures cover January to September and are compared with the same period of 2025. Per-tonne values are averages across all natural stone shipped to each country.