Italian ceramic technology: exports make up 77.3% of turnover

Exports remain the driving force behind the sector, generating a turnover of 1,288.2 million euro, 77.3% of the total. 

In 2012 exports fell by 7.4% with respect to 2011 (1,391 million euro), with results varying considerably across the various export areas. The drop in international sales is largely attributable to two strategic markets: the slowdown of the Chinese economy and difficulties in exporting to Iran due to international sanctions.

A detailed analysis of the various geographic areas of export reveals that, despite a 6% decrease on 2011, the European Union has returned to the top spot in the rankings after two years with 17.2% of total export turnover (221.5 million euro).

Others Asia, which includes India, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam, has become the second largest export area accounting for 16.5% of exports with a total of 212.4 million euro, 1.5% down on 2011. The Middle East has dropped to third place with 208.3 million euro (16.2% of the total), a fall of 26.9%.

Africa (principally North Africa) has risen to fourth place with 170.2 million euro and a 13.2% share of the total following the largest year-on-year growth of all regions (+58.8%). Growth figures were also reported for Eastern Europe, which is in fifth place with 160.3 million euro, a 12.4% share of the total and a 30.7% increase on 2011. 

South America was sixth with 147.9 million euro (11.5% of the total), a fall of 10.7%. Next came North America with exports of 100.4 million euro in 2012 (7.8% of the total), up by 9.6%.

In second-to-last place was East Asia, a region that includes China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, which following the exceptional results of two years ago (when it became the top export area) and an initial contraction last year, saw a 59.7% slump in 2012 to a total of 66.3 million euro, accounting for 5.1% of the sector's total exports.

Last came Oceania, 75.9% down on 2011 to 0.9 million euro and a 0.1% share of the total.