Economics and markets

The Italian ceramic tile industry closed fiscal 2017 with a turnover of 5.5 billion euros (+2.4%), of which 9.3% was invested in new technologies to enhance competitiveness. Read the interview to the newly-elected chairman of Confindustria Ceramica Giovanni Savorani.

The sector’s turnover reached 2.2 billion euros in 2017, 10.3% up on 2016.

The 4th edition of the Acimac Research Department’s “Financial statement analysis of world ceramic tile manufacturers” analysing the data of 388 companies and comparing the results of Italian, Spanish, European and Asian companies is now available.

The 5th edition of “Financial statement analysis of world manufacturers of machinery for the ceramic and brick industries” (by Acimac Research Department) examines the economic and financial figures of 188 companies operating worldwide.

The tile production grew to 530 million sq.m (+7.7%) and total revenues reached 3.5 million Euro (+6%), thanks to the increase of both exports (+4,5%) and domestic sales (+10%).

43 million sq. of ceramic tiles were imported and consumed in Canada last year. Chinese tiles represented 38.7 of total consumption in volume, while Italian tiles represented 38% of total consumption in value.

A new smart neighbourhood to the north of the capital is being planned in what will be the most important private investment of the next few years.

The construction sector saw 5.6% expansion in 2017, and growth is likely to accelerate in 2018.

Energy upgrading segment will require work on almost 5 million houses at an average rate of around 143,000 houses/year.

The residential segment growth achieved 9.8% and 12.8% year-on-year in the second and third quarters.

The US ceramic tile demand reached 283 million sq.m in 2017, the highest value since 2006, boosting both the domestic production and imports.

New home starts increased for the eighth year in a row, achieving 1.20 million units, the highest yearly level in a decade.

The Russian ceramic tile production grew to 164 million sq.m in 2017, as well as tile imports, which are estimated at about 42 million sq.m.

Russia’s construction output fell by 1.4% in 2017, while a more significant decrease was registered in the new housing construction sector with the number of new houses dropping by 4.8%.

As announced at the 84th Euroconstruct Conference in Munich on 24 November 2017, construction volume in the Euroconstruct area is expected to grow by 3.5% in 2017. 

The Spanish tile production has grown by 8% in 2017 to 530 million sq.m. Total sales have reached 3,520 million euros (+7%).

Housing is one of the sectors to receive funding along with educational and healthcare buildings.

The country is seeing a growing number of sustainable projects and applications for LEED certification.

Acimac Research Dept. updates the yearly analysis of the world ceramic sanitaryware import/export flows. In 2016 they fell to 2.8 million tonnes (-1.4%), mainly due to the contraction of Chinese exports (-7.4%).

A major factor is the rapid development of the middle classes which already make up half of the country’s population.