Although the stone sector is heavily tied to exports, natural stone companies increasingly focus on domestic demand, shifting the industry’s dynamics and seeking to balance their operations between the domestic and international markets.
For instance, the greatest demand in the domestic market is for finished products. The country is estimated to have more than 1,200 varieties of natural stones and over 10,000 companies in the sector. According to data, the national market absorbs a large portion of Brazilian ornamental stones—about two-thirds of national production—and is responsible for revenue approximately twice as large as that recorded from exports.
Focusing on Espírito Santo, 53% of the revenue for companies in the state already comes from the domestic market. A 2023 exclusive survey by Futura showed that 75% of business owners are optimistic about prospects for sales within the national territory.
This inward focus can also be seen at the Cachoeiro Stone Fair, one of the main and most traditional fairs in Brazil’s natural stone sector, which is more geared toward the domestic audience and known for bringing together stonemasons from across the country.
The event, now in its 35th edition with the theme “35 Years Ahead,” will take place from August 27 to 30 at the Carlos Caiado Barbosa Exhibition Park in Cachoeiro de Itapemirim and promises to be a major catalyst for business.
Around 200 brands will be exhibiting, showcasing the entire production chain, from extraction to stone processing. “Fairs are always a moment of beauty, a showcase, a time to display the best of what we have. We make it a point to be at the Cachoeiro Stone Fair to meet our customers and potential clients. It’s a matter of great pride, as a Cachoeirense and as someone within the stone sector, to be part of this event,” said Madson Hora, owner of Margramar.
Targeted at professionals of the sector, such as stonemasons, architects, designers, engineers, business owners, managers, distributors, and buyers, the fair has already opened its registration, which is exclusively online, at
www.cachoeirostonefair.com.br.
“All the integration the event fosters directly contributes to the sector’s growth, even stimulating market evolution, promoting everything from knowledge exchange to technological development. Fondly called ‘The Cachoeiro Fair,’ the Cachoeiro Stone Fair strengthens the local economy, attracts investment, and highlights Espírito Santo as a strategic hub in sectoral production and marketing,” stated Ed Martins, president of the Sindicato da Indústria de Rochas Ornamentais do Espírito Santo (Sindirochas).
Flávia Milaneze, CEO of Milanez Milaneze, the company organizing the fair, emphasizes that the event “brings innovations with each edition, providing a differentiated experience, along with unique and exclusive programs for visitors, generating insights on the latest trends, technological advances, and best practices in the natural stone industry.”
The event is expected to attract 18,000 visitors, including qualified buyers from over 600 Brazilian cities and 28 countries, promoting networking, contributing to business tourism, and boosting the trade and service sector in the region, known as “the marble capital of the world.”
Cachoeiro Stone Fair 2024
Date: August 27 to 30, from 2 PM to 8 PM (Tuesday to Friday), with access permitted until 7 PM
Location: Carlos Caiado Barbosa Exhibition Park, Cachoeiro de Itapemirim
Target Audience: Professionals of the sector, such as stonemasons, architects, designers, engineers, business owners, managers, distributors, and buyers
Visitors: An expected 18,000 attendees
Exhibiting Brands: Around 200, representing the entire production chain
Exhibition Area: 30,000 sqm
International Presence: 28 countries.
Represented States: 26 Brazilian states and the Federal District
Registration: Already available exclusively at www.cachoeirostonefair.com.br
Organizer: The Cachoeiro Stone Fair is organized by Milanez Milaneze, a company of the Veronafiere Group, with promotion by Sindirochas, Cetemag, and Centrorochas.
