Luanda: The Angolan State generated revenue of USD 179.61 million from the export of 601,300 cubic metres of ornamental stones between 2021 and 2025. The figures were presented on Friday in Luanda by Secretary of State for Petroleum and Gas, Jos© Barroso, during a review of the production and marketing of decorative stones in the country over the past five years.
According to Angola Press News Agency, Barroso identified China, Spain, and Italy as the main destinations for production, accounting for 89.16 per cent of export volumes. He revealed that 139,480 cubic metres of ornamental stones were exported in the first half of this year, generating approximately USD 21.26 million.
During the period under review, Hula Province recorded the highest production, accounting for 95.11 per cent of the total, followed by Namibe with 4.67 per cent, Zaire with 0.11 per cent, and Cunene with 0.10 per cent. According to the Secretary of State, the figures achieved confirm the economic importance of this subsector and the need to consolidate the gains already made by creating better conditions for its development.
He stated that the current challenge is to combine production and exports with improvements in productivity, quality, and value addition. Barroso advocated the continued promotion of local processing, the modernisation of production processes, the raising of quality and certification standards, the strengthening of workforce skills, and the expansion of the presence of Angolan companies in international value chains.
He also highlighted the implementation of the Ornamental Stone Development Hub, a project under way in Namibe Province aimed at improving conditions for the integrated development of the subsector. Barroso further pointed to the Ornamental Stone Enhancement Centre in Hula, which contributes to the assessment and characterisation of stone properties.
Speaking on the occasion, Yuri Pinto, Head of the Studies and Statistics Department at the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas, said that black granite accounted for 92.72 per cent of production in the first half of this year, followed by white marble with 2.16 per cent, pink granite with 1.37 per cent, granite with 1.13 per cent, and other types of stone with 2.62 per cent.
