Three pioneering decades
 
Stone+tec, the International Trade Fair Natural Stone and Stoneprocessing Technology, celebrates its 30th anniversary from 20-23 May 2009. The biennial Stone+tec generated positive signals for the industry at the last event in spring 2007 with 963 exhibitors and 41,084 trade visitors .
 
Whereas the USA was regarded as a lucrative sales market for natural stone in the past years, the present economic crisis there, the strong euro and the sound, indeed booming markets in Europe have directed the industry's attention back to the old continent again. Stone+tec in N¨¹rnberg is located at the heart of this demand and can meanwhile look back on three decades of reflecting and inspiring the German and European natural stone markets.
 
Robust economic situation in Germany
The Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) has some good news to report in its latest press release on the economic situation in the Federal Republic of Germany: "Growth has in all probability accelerated in the first quarter of this year, driven by the dynamic development in the industry and in the primary building trade." The market in Germany is thus developing positively despite the general cooling down of the world economy.
 
"The more clearly emerging weak phase in the USA is accompanied by increasing strains and risks to the world economy. (¡­) The economic and price risks have increased with the continuing problems of the US mortgage crisis, the distinct shift of currency relations and the further rise in the prices of crude oil and food."
 
With a slight decline in international demand, mainly the domestic demand has a supporting effect, according to the ministry: "Building production showed particularly strong growth. This increased by another 3.7 % in February, after +11.4 % in January. The prospects for the manufacturing industry remain very favourable."
 
The sustained upturn of investment in fixed assets and the improved situation of the public budgets should continue to provide impetus according to the BMWi forecast: "Orders in the primary building trade are developing in an extremely volatile way at present due to large orders. In the three-month comparison, which is less prone to fluctuations, the volume of orders is increasing (November / December / January compared with August / September / October: +3.3 %)."

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