Italian ceramic companies report turnover growth

The current issue of Tile Italia, the best known and most widely-read magazine amongst Italian home furnishing retailers, is unveiling the rankings of the 2010 turnovers of the top Italian ceramic tile producer companies.
The figures confirm Marazzi Group’s position at the top of the rankings with a turnover of 818.3 million euro, 2.15% up on 2009. In 2010 Marazzi Group completed a significant programme of investments, including 100 million euro in Italy. Concorde Group stands in second place, having certainly strengthened its position with respect to 2009 in spite of not submitting its 2010 figures. PanariaGroup maintains third place with 285.2 million euro, slightly up on 2009. FinFloor (Florim) Group, with 273.8 million euro (5.42% up on 2009), is closing the gap on Cooperativa Ceramica d’Imola Group (274.9 million euro). Worthy of a special mention is GranitiFiandre, which reported 3.31% turnover growth in 2010 to reach 190 million euro and then on 1 May 2011 leased the industrial and commercial arm of Iris Ceramica. The combined turnover of the two entities can be estimated at around 400 million euro, which would secure the Fiandre-Iris Group third place in the rankings after Marazzi and Concorde Group.

A number of companies with turnovers below 90 million euro reported two-figure growth. These include the Gold Art Group with a turnover of 88.2 million euro (13.6% up on 2009 and just 2.54% down on the very poor performance of 2008) and an increase in number of employees; Industrie Ceramiche Piemme with a turnover of 80.3 million euro (+12.15%), achieved without resorting to the wages guarantee fund but increasing both production and exports and making new investments (27 million euro planned in 2011); and Rondine Group which reached a turnover of 56.3 million euro in 2010, the biggest year-on-year increase (+20.29%) following the signing in March 2010 of a five-year lease contract for Ceramiche Sadon.  
Coem Ceramiche and Ceramiche CVV Castelvetro also reported two-figure growth (respectively +17.55% and +11.79%) although their current turnovers still fall far short of pre-crisis levels.

The companies that have recovered most effectively from the crisis include: Casalgrande Padana: turnover of 283.0 million euro in 2010 and 295.9 million euro in 2008 (4.35% down on 2008); GoldArt Group: 88.2 million euro in 2010 and 90.5 million euro in 2008 (2.54% down on 2008); and Savoia Italia 35 million euro in 2010 and 35.6 million euro in 2008 (1.68% down on 2008).