US Trade Rep to Review Quartz Safeguard

00:00 Brought to You by TAB Quartz
00:20 Intro
00:30 US Trade Rep to Review Quartz Safeguard
02:31 A Word from TAB Surfaces 
03:40 Calif. Board Heads Toward Quartz Ban
05:23 Caesarstone Shows Down 1Q 2026
07:05 LX Hausys Begins Design Council
08:45 Neolith Global Summit; Ciot Partnership
11:37 Brazil Stone Experience in Washington
12:58 ISFA Salt Lake Summit in June
14:14 Outro
14:40 Brought to You by TAB Quartz

Radio Stone Update is presented on the second and fourth Wednesdays every month at 9 a.m. everywhere on Earth with the latest news and insights in hard surfaces. Check our archives at www.radiostoneupdate.com.

Transcript

00:20

Hi, I’m K. Schipper with the latest in hard surfaces industry news from Radio Stone Update.

00:30

A proposal to temporarily limit quartz-surface imports will get another hearing in the nation’s capital next month.

The office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the USTR, has announced it will hold a hearing on June 16 to review the recommendations of the U.S. International Trade Commission, the USITC, to aid domestic quartz-surface manufacturers. The USTR will also accept written comments until June 1.

Following a submission of a Section 201, or Safeguard, petition by the Quartz Manufacturing Alliance of America (QMAA), the USITC found last month that 2020-2024 quartz surface imports impaired U.S. manufacturers.

Commissioners submitted initial recommendations, including a tariff-rate quota and no hard cap on imports earlier in May. Both the original decision and ensuing remedy consideration involved nine-hour hearings.

The USTR is also authorized to review Safeguard actions through the Trade Policy Staff Committee. The TPSC is an advisory group of officials from all cabinet departments and selected government agencies.

The June 16 hearing on behalf of the TPSC will allow domestic producers, importers, exporters and other interested parties to comment on the USITC recommendations. After the hearing, the TPSC will make its own recommendation to the president.

President Donald Trump will have until July 18 to use the recommendations of the two agencies or construct a different remedy, which will be in effect for four years. Written comments may be submitted online through June 1 through the website http://www.regulations.gov/ and typing USTR-2026-0232 in the Search box.

03:40

A California workplace-safety commission took the first step to possibly ban the future use of engineered stone in that state.

Meeting in Los Angeles last week, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board voted 3-0 to begin the process of changing the state’s workplace standards. The move would stop the fabrication and installation of engineered stone containing more than 1% crystalline silica.

The board directed CalOSHA to draft emergency standards and set up advisory committees on potential worker protections. No timetable was set for delivery and consideration of the emergency rules.

The process follows actions taken at the end of 2023 to ban dry cutting and set specific procedures for working with engineered stone. Last week’s action granted the petition of the Western Occupational and Environmental Medical Association filed last December requesting the board stop the use of engineered stone in the state.

During the meeting, Dr. Betsy Noth, a senior industrial hygienist with CalOSHA, noted that the number of silicosis cases among artificial-stone workers “has increased ten-fold over the last three years.”

She added that assuming cases in 2026 continue to follow the same trend, the total cases will reach 900 by next year.

Matt Thurston, Cosentino’s regional director for the western United States, testified that reports don’t completely reflect the current state of science and many shops use these products safely and legally.

“Banning a product to compensate for failed enforcement is irresponsible,” Thurston said.

05:23

Caesarstone executives believe the company will show a profit by the end of 2026, but recently released first quarter results show they still have a way to go.
 
Worldwide revenue for the first three months of the year totaled $88.7 million, down from $99.6 million for the same period in 2025. Sales were down in nearly every market, plus the company experienced several major financial charges.

Most of those charges were related to efforts to streamline operations by using third-party sources for quartz-manufacturing and also dealing with possible claims from silicosis cases. Still, Caesarstone CEO Yos Shiran said 1Q results reflect meaningful structural progress on the company’s ongoing transformation.

First quarter revenues in the United States, Caesarstone’s largest market, dropped 18.6% year-over-year to $39.9 million. Canadian 1Q revenue also dropped 20.3%, to $10.9 million. The sole bright spot came from Australia, where sales of the company’s ICON zero-silica surfaces sparked a 23.4 % year-over-year increase to $17 million.

Shiran remains confident in the company’s long-term financial future based on its current operating plan and assuming no material deterioration in global economic or geopolitical conditions.

“We remain on track to achieve positive Adjusted EBITDA in the third quarter of 2026 and are committed to building a strong, more resilient and more profitable Caesarstone,” he said.

07:05

LX Hausys America Inc. announced the launch of its LX Hausys Design Council, a cross-channel group created to integrate real-world market feedback directly into the company’s product development process.

The design council is made up of eight interior design, stone fabrication, distribution and home center professionals. Its task is to help ensure that future VIATERA quartz-surface introductions align with customer expectations, regional design preferences and application needs.

Its work will culminate with the launch of the company’s 2027 VIATERA product introductions, which will be made at the 2027 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) set for next Feb. 2-4 in Las Vegas.

Yael Goldshmid, director of surface product development, says the LX Hausys Design Council will play a meaningful role in creating new VIATERA products.

“With this group, we’re taking another strategic step to ensure our products have market fit and long-term relevance,” Goldshmid says. “The council will also advise on application and installation methods, as well as the viability of using VIATERA beyond traditional kitchen and bath countertop applications.”

Council members attended a kickoff meeting earlier this spring at LX Hausys’ manufacturing plant in Alpharetta, Ga., to review the company’s initial 2027 product ideas.

The council will meet twice more this year, with members providing feedback on a host of topics from product concepts and prototypes to finish choices, decorative element pairings, pricing and materiality.

08:45

Sintered stone surfaces producer Neolith held its 2026 Global Summit April 27-29 at its world headquarters in Castellon, Spain.

Attending were customers, strategic partners and regional teams from almost 40 countries across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

Under the theme “The Power of Building Together,” the gathering was designed to become a point of connection between markets, strengthen relationships, share priorities and advance the brand’s growth, innovation and expansion.

The three-day program explored some of the strategic pillars driving Neolith’s evolution in the coming years. The sessions focused on marketing, innovation, competitive analysis and new opportunities linked to the impact of artificial intelligence.

Beyond the working sessions, the event offered an opportunity to strengthen Neolith’s closeness with its international network, building relationships based on the pursuit of shared objectives.

Neolith also reaffirmed its commitment to an international growth strategy. The company is currently immersed in an expansion plan aimed at key geographic areas including North America, Australia, the UK, Europe and China.

Neolith has also announced a strategic partnership with Montreal-based Ciot to be the exclusive distributor of Neolith surfaces across regions of New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania.

The move represents the next phase of growth for Neolith in the region as it transitions from a direct distribution model to a partner-led approach. The move is designed to scale operations, strengthen local execution and deliver a higher level of service to the market.

Michele Ballarin, CEO of Neolith Americas, says growth in those markets has been strong, and the new model will allow the company greater focus and efficiency.

“Ciot has a proven track record in slab distribution, a best-in-class operational platform and deep relationships across the fabricator and design communities. This partnership allows us to expand our reach while elevating the overall customer experience,” Ballarin says.

Under the new structure, Ciot will lead all distribution, logistics and day-to-day-operations within its designated territory. It will continue operations from its Brooklyn, N.Y., facility while also assuming operations at Neolith’s Carlstadt, N.J., location. That move should significantly increase inventory availability and enable faster, more efficient access to material across the market.

Joe Panzera, president of Ciot, says his company is extremely excited to partner with Neolith.

“Neolith is a global leader in sintered stone and this partnership brings together their world-class product with our infrastructure, showroom network and go-to-market capability,” said Panzera.

11:37

There are still a few months left in 2026, but Brazilian officials are already looking ahead next year’s Kitchen and Bath Industry Show.

On May 6, the Brazilian Embassy residence hosted the first international initiative on the schedule leading up to KBIS 2027. Billed as Brazil Stone Experience – Washington, D.C. Edition, the event brought together architects, designers, specifiers and representatives from the construction industry for an evening dedicated to bringing the U.S. market and the Brazilian natural stone industry together.

Organized by the Brazilian Natural Stone Association Centrorochas and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency ApexBrasil through the It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone program, the evening was attended by Centrorochas Vice President Fabio Cruz, who gave an overview of the sector and highlighted the advancement of Brazilian natural stone in the international market, with an emphasis on the United States.

“Even after the elimination of the additional tariffs imposed last year, the United States is still the main market for Brazilian natural stone,” said Cruz. “It’s essential for us to continuously work on positioning, expanding the presence and specification of Brazilian materials, especially in the high-end segment.”

12:58

And, the International Surface Fabricators Association (ISFA) heads to Salt Lake City June 10-11 for its Regional Countertop and Surfaces Summit.

Hosted by Cobble Creek Countertops and Cosentino, the two days will focus on three industry challenges:
  *Rising compliance pressure around silica, OSHA and tariffs;
  *A workforce that is harder to train and retain, and;
  *Material costs and competition that are squeezing margins.

The first day is designed for shop personnel and will be held at Cobble Creek. The session will offer hands-on porcelain fabrication training, and cover issues from porcelain material handling through fabrication essentials to installation and finishing and maintenance.

The second day is for shop owners and managers and will take place at Cosentino’s Salt Lake City showroom and distribution center. Topics to be covered include a regulatory update, growth strategies, a dedicated safety and compliance session and a closed-door executive forum.

Those interested in attending may sign up for one or both days. To register, go to www.isfanow.org/events/fabricator-forum

14:14

Remember the latest edition of Hard Surface Report is available now at www.hardsurfacereport.com. For a transcript of today’s podcast, go to www.radiostoneupdate.com. I’m K. Schipper for Radio Stone Update and we’ll see you here again soon.