Historically speaking, stone is the most important economic sector in the productive system of Massa Carrara, both in terms of the traditional industrial activities in themselves (quarrying, transformation and trading of local materials), and on account of their effects locally (transport, building, shipping, craft, services, informatics, credit systems and in the field of machinery and equipment for the quarrying and working of the stone).

According to recent estimates, 66.5% of production is made up of unformed blocks, 33.5% by squared blocks. Over 80% of the marble coming out of the quarries is the famous Carrara White. Stone plaque production finds its outlet mainly on the foreign market. At the end of 2004 stone for construction (raw marble and granite in blocks and slabs) was exported for a value of over 64 million euro. The principal importers are the United States of America, China, India, Africa and Spain. A vital sector as far as exports are concerned is in the finishing of marble and granite, and this registered values of over 275 million of euro in 2004.

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