Portland limestone producer Albion Stone was a lone representative of the British industry at the Xiamen stone show in China in March. It shared a stand with fellow Europeans Geiger, which extracts Jura limestone in Germany.

It was the second year Albion had taken a stand at the Chinese exhibition and MD Michael Poultney said visitors to the stand seemed more impressed that the stone had been used in a retail development in Macau (Hong Kong) following the company’s appearance at last year’s show than that it was stone used to build St Paul’s Cathedral in London 350 years ago.

Michael said of the show this year: “I haven’t seen any figures but there was a consistent, steady flow of people through the halls.

“There are a number of interesting enquiries and new leads, but the cost of a stone from the UK remains a significant hurdle and we have always recognised we’re appealing to a very limited market – the same people who are buying Rolls Royces and Lamborghinis!

Michael was joined on the stand by Clinton Haigh and Jordan Poultney, who have both recently joined Albion, and the firm’s Asian agent, James Wang.