Division 23

Cutting, shaping and finishing of stone

This CAEN division includes activities for processing natural stone, from cutting rough blocks to obtaining finished products such as slabs, tiles, funerary monuments or decorative elements. Essentially, stone extracted from quarries is transformed into value-added products ready for use in construction, interior or exterior design.

Included Activities & Applicability

  • ✅ Extraction and processing of ornamental and building stone Cutting and shaping of stone blocks Finishing of stone surfaces by grinding
  • ✅ polishing or carving Production of slabs
  • ✅ tiles and paving from natural stone Manufacture of funerary monuments and decorative stone elements

Excluded Activities & Restrictions

  • ❌ Extraction of crude stone (included in division 08)
  • ❌ Processing of stone for the manufacture of cement or lime (included in division 23)
  • ❌ Production of aggregates from crushed stone (included in division 08)
  • ❌ Construction activities using stone (included in division 41-43)

Subordinate Structure

231 Manufacture of flat glass
→
2311 Manufacture of flat glass
→
2312 Processing and finishing of flat glass
→
2313 Manufacture of glass articles
→
2314 Manufacture of glass fibres
→
2315 Fabrication of technical glassware
→
232 Manufacture of refractory products
→
2320 Manufacture of refractory products
→
233 Manufacture of ceramic tiles and flags
→
2331 Manufacture of ceramic flags and tiles
→
2332 Manufacture of bricks, tiles and other construction products, from baked clay
→
234 Manufacture of ceramic household and ornamental articles
→
2341 Manufacture of ceramic household and ornamental articles
→
2342 Manufacture of ceramic sanitary fixtures
→
2343 Manufacture of ceramic insulators and insulating fittings
→
2344 Manufacture of other technical ceramic products
→
2345 Manufacture of other ceramic products not elsewhere classified
→
235 Manufacture of cement
→
2351 Manufacture of cement
→
2352 Manufacture of lime and plaster
→
236 Manufacture of concrete products for construction
→
2361 Manufacture of concrete products for construction
→
2362 Manufacture of plaster products for construction
→
2363 Manufacture of concrete
→
2364 Manufacture of mortar
→
2365 Manufacture of asbestos-cement products
→
2366 Manufacture of other articles of concrete, cement and plaster
→
237 Cutting, shaping and finishing of stone
→
2370 Cutting, shaping and finishing of stone
→
239 Manufacture of abrasive products
→
2391 Manufacture of abrasive products
→
2399 Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products n.e.c.
→

Detailed Analysis & Commercial Insights

CAEN Division 23 covers the processing of natural stone, from marble and granite to limestone or travertine. In Romania, this industry has deep roots, starting with exploitations in the Apuseni and Eastern Carpathians, and continuing with traditional stone carving workshops. On a macroeconomic level, the sector contributes significantly to exports, especially as Romanian marble is appreciated on foreign markets such as Italy or Germany. However, entrepreneurs in this field face major challenges: high costs of modern machinery (CNC water jet cutting machines), access to quality deposits, and compliance with environmental regulations (management of stone waste and dust). In recent years, interior design and architecture trends have increased demand for finished natural stone, offering development opportunities but also the need to adapt to more efficient and eco-friendly processing technologies. To remain competitive, entrepreneurs must invest in workforce training and certifications that attest to the sustainable origin of materials.