The exports of all kinds of marble products will cross $62 million by the end of December 2009, All Pakistan Marble Mining Processing Industry and Exporters Association (APMMPIEA) said Monday.



Around 15 percent growth is expected in the marble sales-both local and international- with local sales contributing nine to ten percent.



"The growth and export depends on the back of construction boom in Middle East and increase in demand from India," chairman, businessman group of APMMPIEA, Sanaullah Khan said.



He said country witnessed around 60 percent increase in export during June-July 2009, which stood at $31.9 million as compared with $19.9 million during 2007-08.



"Export to Dubai and other Middle East countries including Saudi Arab increased as compared to export to USA and European nations during this period," he added.



Demand from India alone is around more than one million dollar every month as India possesses granite but does not have any marble reserves.



He said Federal Minister for Industries and Production, Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo also appreciated the efforts of stakeholders and Pakistan Stone Development Company (PASDEC) for enhancing export.



China is the largest importer of chromite. "It is exported to China at Rs 45 per kg but due to disturbance in the tribal areas our export is jolted," he claimed.



Chromite is a black colour stone and contains around 55 percent steel properties and used in steel making.



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.



There is export potential of about $1 billion in the marble sector. 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 products export was hit by load shedding, as it could not meet set target of $ 60 million in July-June 2009.



Mining and quarry sector contributes nearly 0.6 percent to Pakistan's Gross Domestic Products (GDP) with an estimated value addition of more than Rs 16.5 billion.