Economics and markets

Estimates suggest 4% growth in the German ceramic tile market in the first half of 2004

Assopiastrelle unveils 24th National Statistical Survey. Fall in sales and turnover

Fall in the domestic and European markets. Exports hold strong, with increase in the Middle East and Asia

Rising demand for high-quality products together with a fall in import duties.

Sales of local products stable, imports increasing

Sales substantially stable in Europe and strong in Africa. Turnover down above all in the Americas, Asia and the Middle East.

The “Forecasting report for the world ceramic tile market paints a fairly rosy picture for the Spanish tile industry in 2004-2005. A smaller recovery for Italy

Preliminary end-of-year results indicate a 4.9% increase in production and a 27% increase in exports

In 2003 the NAR registered growth in all market segments

General world shared indices

Share indices of companies in ceramic and allied industries

Production and total sales fall, although the outlook remains positive for 2004

Presentation of survey conducted by Assopiastrelle and Giorgio Olivieri & Associati entitled “Costs by product type and average revenues in the ceramic tile industry”

Investments in Europe stationary as markets shift eastward. Signs of recovery for first half of 2004

Exports down by 2.69% in quantities and 2.83% in value

The results of the sector survey and the comments of the chairmen of the ceramic associations

28/10/03 -The tile cutting segment is made up of about 83 companies, of smaller dimensions than those in the decoration segment. They employ a total of 1500 people and have a turnover of 150 million euro. The sample analysed in the survey consists of 11 companies that represent 15% of the total and generate a turnover of 22 million euro, 12% on 2001.

In the future the production of the Italian tile industry will fall to 400-450 sq.m/year.

28/10/03 - The sector survey analysed 29 of the approximately 118 companies that make up the third fire decoration segment in the Modena and Reggio Emilia ceramic cluster. Total turnover amounted to about 350 million euro in 2002. The sampled companies reported a turnover of about 147 million euro, 2.7% down on the 151 million euro of 2001.

The rankings by turnover, exports, production and employees