Ceramic World Review publishes survey of "World production and consumption of ceramic tiles"

Published exclusively in the Cersaie issue of Ceramic World Review (already available online at www.tiledizioni.it and in a tablet version via the magazine's free App), the 2012 figures for world production and consumption of ceramic tiles conducted by the Acimac Studies Centre reveals a positive overall situation, albeit with lower growth than the double-figure increases of 2011.

In 2012 world tile production reached 11,166 million square metres, 5.4% up on 2011. Growth was reported in almost all areas of the planet and in all the leading producer countries. Asia produced 7,674 million sq.m (+6.4%), bringing its share of world production to 68.7%. Europe saw a slight rise in production, up from 1,667 to 1,700 million sq.m (+2%) and equivalent to 15.3% of world production. In greater detail, the European Union (EU-27) remained stable at 1,168 million sq.m (0.8% down on 2011), while non-EU Europe reached 532 million sq.m (+8.6%). In the American continent, total production reached 1,438 million sq.m (12.9% of world production). Central and South America produced 1,138 million sq.m (+3.6%), while North America reached 300 million sq.m (+4.2%). Africa also showed recovery following the downturn in 2011 with production reaching 349 million sq.m (+7.1%).

World tile consumption also rose by 4.6% to reach 10,912 million sq.m. The European Union was the only region to see a fall in demand, caused by a contraction in almost all countries in the area with the exception of Poland. This contrasted with the strong demand in non-EU Europe (+10.7%), in Africa (+18.7%), driven in particular by the recovery in Libya, in Asia (+4.4%), in Central and South America (+5.3%) and in North America (+5.7%).

Import-export flows were more buoyant in 2012, expanding to 2,358 million sq.m (+8.4%) and accounting for 21.6% of world consumption. Half of world exports originated from Asian countries (1,221 million sq.m, +10.8%), followed by the European Union at 32% (745 million sq.m, +4.9%).

China, Spain and Italy, the three largest exporter countries, accounted for 64% of world exports.