Global Engineered Stone Countertops

Report Overview

Why is India forecast to grow nearly 20% Annually?

• Increased production and construction activity

Featuring 184 tables and 81 figures

Global demand for engineered countertops is forecast to rise 5.4% per year to 97 million square meters in 2028, valued at $9.1 billion. Future market advances will be supported by:

• rising adoption rates in Asia/Pacific and Africa/Mideast, as homeowners replace freestanding furniture or fixtures with countertop and cabinet versions and opt for engineered stone due to its aesthetic and performance properties

• increasing consumer spending on remodeling projects – particularly kitchens and bathrooms – in developed regions

However, recent years have seen porcelain slab countertops pose a major threat to the engineered stone market, restraining stronger growth prospects.

Despite a Weak 2023, Outlook for Engineered Stone Remains Solid

Engineered stone significantly increased its share of the global countertop market over the past decade, but demand for the material experienced a major contraction in 2023. This was mainly brought on by a weak US market, which was restrained by a sizable drop in residential renovation activity off record highs. Despite that downturn, numerous growth opportunities exist for engineered stone going forward, including a growing array of colors in line with current design trends from both domestic and foreign suppliers and an abundant supply of low-cost quartz slabs from Africa/Mideast and other locations in Asia/Pacific, such as India.

Australia Ban & Increased Regulatory Scrutiny Challenges Engineered Stone Suppliers

In late 2023, the effects of silicosis on workers in Australia – a key engineered stone countertops market – led the country to implement a complete ban on engineered stone products as of June 2024. This presents one of the most significant regulatory challenges in the history of the engineered stone market. New Zealand and the US state of California have also raised concerns about the adverse effects of silica dust, which could possibly lead to wider scrutiny of these products. However, major engineered stone producers, such as Cosentino and Caesarstone, have been investing in formulation changes to lower the silica content of their products.

India Offers Greatest Growth Opportunities

The Indian engineered stone market is projected to gain nearly 20% per year through 2028, representing the best growth opportunities globally. The production base in India – as well as domestic availability – has skyrocketed in recent years, partly due to an opportunity to fill a demand void in the US created by steep tariffs on Chinese quartz. Additionally, the rapidly growing building construction market and rising personal incomes will contribute to the market’s robust growth through 2028.

Historical Market Trends

Engineered stone countertop demand is driven by many factors, including:

• local economic activity, personal incomes, and standards of living

• new housing construction

• single-family residential remodels, which often include the replacement of countertops or the addition of bathrooms, outdoor kitchens, or wet bars

• commercial building construction

• shifting consumer tastes (like the move toward countertops with a more stone aesthetic and away from laminates), which can precipitate increased demand in the residential remodeling market

• the popularity and use of competitive products, such as furniture with integrated countertops

Regional Trends

Demand by Region (Square Meters)

Global demand for engineered stone countertops is projected to advance 5.4% per year to 97 million square meters in 2028.

Engineered stone rapidly increased its share of the global countertop market from 2013 to 2022. However, 2023 saw one of the most significant contractions in demand for the engineered stone countertops market in recent memory. This was mainly brought on by a weak US market that year, restrained by a sizable drop in residential renovation activity off record highs. Furthermore, a weak housing market in Western Europe and the rapid market penetration of porcelain slab in the region restrained demand for engineered stone.

Additionally in 2023, a major global development in the market occurred when Australian authorities imposed a national ban on engineered stone products beginning in mid-2024.

Despite a weak 2023, numerous growth opportunities exist for engineered stone going forward, including:

• a growing array of colors in line with current design trends from both domestic and foreign suppliers

• an abundant supply of low-cost quartz slabs from the Africa/Mideast region and other locations in the Asia/Pacific region, such as India

• broader distribution networks for engineered stone

• suppliers increasing their availability of slabs with low silica content, which will be necessary given the ruling in Australia and the possibility of other countries following suit.

In 2023, North America accounted for the largest regional share (32%) of global engineered stone countertop demand. Asia/Pacific was the second largest regional outlet for engineered stone countertops, accounting for 26% of global sales.

Production

Production by Region

The Asia/Pacific region was the world’s principal supplier of engineered stone countertops in 2023. China is the leading manufacturer of engineered stone; production bases in India, South Korea, and Vietnam are also significant to the global market.

Western Europe is the second most significant regional manufacturing base for engineered stone, having sizable production bases in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Belgium, and Germany. The region is home to the world’s largest engineered stone manufacturer, Spain-based Cosentino. Breton engineered stone countertops, which command significantly higher average prices than unbranded examples, will also support high-value production.

Pricing Patterns

Through 2028, the average price of engineered stone countertops is expected to rise. Price growth will continue to be restrained by rapid gains in countries with lower production costs – particularly China, India, and Vietnam – that have counterbalanced the outsized impact of premium Breton products on the global market.

Engineered stone produced by Breton licensees is usually expensive due to its desirability (it is considered very high quality) and restricted availability, as the number of production operations is tightly controlled.

However, engineered stone produced using different machinery is widely available, especially in the Asia/Pacific region; such products are often much less expensive. This led to a notable decline in average prices from 2013 to 2023, when producers with lower costs gained considerable market share.

Regional price differences are attributable to:

• the dominant production technology; markets dominated by Breton producers generally have higher average prices than those with significant amounts of non-Breton production

• regional quality standards

• income levels

Global Building Construction Outlook

A key factor affecting demand for engineered stone countertops is the health and composition of the global building construction industry. That said, countertop usage varies by country based on income, average housing sizes, and nonresidential construction.

Global real (i.e., inflation-adjusted) building construction expenditures are forecast to increase 2.9% annually during the 2023-2028 period. Gains will be bolstered by:

• solid growth in Africa/Mideast and in many of the lower- and middle-income nations in Asia

• an acceleration in Central and South American building construction activity over the 2018-2023 period, which saw activity decline in 2019 and 2020

Consumer Material & Design Preferences

Consumer preferences in engineered stone countertops play a significant role in purchasing decisions. These preferences can be influenced by several factors including:

• price

• performance (especially durability)

• aesthetics (such as availability in a range of colors and finishes)

For example, engineered quartz has become a widely popular countertop material in the US in recent years due to its cost-effectiveness relative to natural stone, durability, and availability in a broad range of colors and finishes that can mimic natural stone. Kitchens in the US tend to be larger than in other global regions, thus requiring larger countertops. As a result, countertop expenses can be significant, making consumers more amenable to inexpensive options that can provide good performance.

In contrast, European kitchens are generally smaller than those found in the US, so countertop areas are smaller (which minimizes overall costs). As a result, many consumers are better able to afford smaller countertops made from more expensive materials such as engineered stone.

Report Details

This study analyzes the global market for engineered stone countertops (also called benchtops or worktops in some parts of the world). Demand is segmented in terms of:

• market:

  • residential buildings, including new and remodeling applications in single-family detached houses, single-family attached houses (e.g., townhouses), apartment and condominium buildings with multiple dwelling units, and manufactured homes

  • nonresidential buildings, including new and remodeling applications (e.g., office, retail, lodging, institutional, and industrial buildings)

• area of installation

  • kitchens

  • bathrooms

  • other areas (e.g., residential finished basements and dining rooms, hotel lobbies, retail customer service areas)

In this study, countertops are defined as countertop surfaces, as well as edging and backsplash, but not countertop materials used as wall coverings.

Surfaces installed on tables, rolling utility carts, and other furniture are excluded from this study.

Historical data (2013, 2018, and 2023) and forecasts for 2029 and 2033 are provided for countertop demand by type, market, and room in square meters on a country-by-country basis. Global demand is also provided in dollars.

Demand, market share, and pricing is measured at the slab manufacturer level.