The analysis of slate export statistics for the first half of the year shows very similar data to what we have already published for the first four months of the year.
Once again, we prefer to include the 2019 data in our analysis in order to obtain a more correct view of the figures because, as we have already explained, a simple comparative analysis of the current year with 2020 may lead to errors of assessment due to the suspension of activity in the slate sector as a result of the pandemic.
1 – Evolution of world exports – 1st semester 2019-2020-2021
The increase in exported tones between 2021 and 2020 is +24.85%, consolidating the data of the first four months of the year, maintaining the pace of exports under the pressure of strong demand. However, the percentage drops to +6.14%, if we compare the first half of 2020 with the same period in 2019, confirming the difficulties faced by production to keep pace with demand, especially given the low volume of stock available in the sector.
2 – Evolution by country – 1st semester.
The data in general are almost exactly reflected in the overall figures for the most important countries:
France: gains +25% compared to 2020. The percentage drops to +5.06% compared to 2019.
Germany: the evolution of exports behaves similarly: +4.84% compared to 2020 and +6.06% compared to 2019. It should be noted that the rates in Germany have not been affected by the pandemic in 2020, due to the stocks available in the sector and which from Spain, continued to supply the market during the containment.
Belgium: higher percentages than the other countries: +25.70% compared to 2020 and +16.18% compared to 2019.
The United Kingdom: It presents a spectacular increase +49.84% compared to 2020 (it is the country that has suffered the most in the export due to the closure of borders). The data compared to 2019 presents a +6.79%.
The rest of the countries accumulate -2.77% compared to 2020 and +4.73%. As we pointed out in our Q1 analysis, these lower percentages are likely due to pressure from more traditional and powerful markets that are absorbing some of the production that was previously destined for these countries.
Source: Clúster de la pizarra de Galicia – September 2021