This study considers the Greek marble and granite sector. As we all know, Greece has a long tradition in marble and it is one of the most well-known producer countries of marble worldwide. A great number of companies operate in this sector and they strive to cope with the intense competition that is prevailing on a global scale as efficiently as possible, by developing their export business and promoting Greek products in the international market.



Greek industries are forced to do business within the limits imposed to them by the institutional framework (regarding the operation licenses of quarries, environmental reasons, and so on). As a consequence, their quarrying activity is in certain cases bounded, making them import the required raw material (mainly from third countries).



As for granite, it is a competing product to marble and it is imported since it cannot be mined in Greece. It is more resistant and more uniform compared to marble and that is why, despite its high price, it is often preferred by consumers.



With its abundant marble deposits, the Greek marble sector is one of the most important sectors of the economy. It is comprised of numerous companies among which competition is becoming fiercer. Specifically, the sector is made up of a few large-sized companies, which not only quarry marble blocks but also process and manufacture final products, as well as many smaller-sized companies which usually only process marble and granite. It is important to underline that the number of companies whose business involves granite is small, and the majority of them is also active in the marble sector. Granite is imported since there are no granite resources in Greece.