Exports buoy up the Italian ceramic sanitaryware industry

The second national statistical survey of the Italian ceramic sanitaryware industry conducted by Confindustria Ceramica reveal a strongly export-oriented sector.
Last year the industry exported 3,379,939 pieces, equivalent to 39% of total sales (2% up in terms of volumes on 2006).
The European Union is the main outlet for ceramic sanitaryware, accounting for two-thirds of total exports. This includes Spain with 23% and Great Britain with 8%, followed by France with 7% and Germany with 6%.
Sales in the Americas and Asia are marginal at 2% and 2.18% of the total, respectively.
According to the breakdown of exports by product type, Vitreous China and Fine Fire Clay account for 32.3% of total exports (70% towards the European market), while Fire Clay covers 67.7% of foreign sales (two-thirds to the European Union, led by Spain).

A total of 9,260,000 pieces were produced in 2007 (-6%), of which 4,722,600 (51%) were manufactured in the Civita Castellana district. Total sales amounted to 8,680,000 pieces (-3.6%) corresponding to a total turnover of 650 million euro (362 million euro in Italy and 287 million euro abroad). WCs and washbasins accounted for 50% of total sales, a figure that rises to more than 80% if shower trays and bidets are also included.

Imports amounted to almost 3 million pieces (including intercompany products), 14.2% up on 2006.
The non-EU markets are those with the highest volumes, accounting for 53% of the total. China is the leading country of production, supplying the Italian market with more than 670,000 pieces (23% of the total).

Apparent consumption in 2007 amounted to 8.3 million pieces with a value of 475.5 million euro.

At the end of 2007 the sector counted 51 companies (with a total of 4,650 employees). 43 of these are based in the Civita Castellana district, which is also home to 48 of the sector's 59 industrial-level production facilities.