The country's export of marble, granite and onyx products during September 2009 stood $2.42 million as compared with $3.62 million in same period last year, according to the Federal Bureau of Statistics Tuesday.



An official said during July-September 2009-10, the exports of these products remained $7.7 million as compared with $8.99 during same period in 2008-09.



"During September 2009, the marble industry targeted around $3.0 million export but due to higher cost of doing business and power outages, the sector was unable to meet the target," chairman BMG Group of All Pakistan Marble Mining Processing Industry and Exporters Association (APMMPIEA), Sanaullah Khan said.



He said during September 2008, the sector achieved exports of $ 3.63 million against the target of $3.0 million.



Khan said the country would cross $60 million export of all kind of marble products till December 2009 on back of construction boom in Middle East and increase in Indian demand.



He said the country witnessed around 60 percent increase in export during July-May 2009, which stood at $31.7 million as compared with same period during 2007-08, which stood at $ 19.8 million.



"Export to Dubai and other Middle East countries including Saudi Arab increases as compared to export to USA and European nations during Jan-May 2009," he added.



He said, "USA is eyeing on Swat district, Bajaur agencies and NWFP where we have million tonnes of deposit of marble and chromite."



Khan said China is the largest importer of chromite, "It is exported to China at Rs 42 per kg but due to disturbance in the tribal areas our export is hit hard" he claimed.



Demand from India alone is around more than one million dollar every month as India posses granite but not marble.



There is export potential of about $1 billion, realising the potential in marble and granite sector. The last government approved in principle the project relating to the establishment of 10 model quarries, two machinery pools and four common facility training centres.



The marble and granite are among the major minerals extracted in Pakistan after coal, rock salt, limestone and China Clay.



The marble products export was hit by load shedding, as it could not meet target of $ 60 million in July- June 2009.



Mr Khan said despite the fact that marble-manufacturing sector, which is facing hardship to run the wheels since January 2008 due to power outage to more than eight hours daily. Around 45 percent of the processing units in Karachi have doubled their production in the biggest marble estate in the country. He said presently export orders of marble products including tiles and slabs to Middle East, USA, China, Italy, Hong Kong and South Korea are in the pipeline.



Moreover all the marble cutting and polishing units in NWFP are closed due to ongoing military operation in the area.



Due to growing unrest in the country international investors reluctant to visit Pakistan to place orders therefore the exhibitions and trade delegations are essential to capture export orders.