Italian tile exports pick up

The Italian tile sector has reported a small recovery in the first quarter of 2010 with 1.7% growth in exports. The figure is based on initial estimates by Confindustra Ceramica and was announced by Sole 24ore Centro Nord (the official data will be published in a few days' time). Although modest, it points to a recovery in the ceramic sector, boosted by the fall in the euro against the dollar which has facilitated exports. The figure is particularly encouraging given that the weather in the first three months of the year was very unfavourable for building activities.

Exports to the U.S.A. rose sharply (+18.5%) whereas sales in Germany fell (-1.5%). These figures show a marked improvement over 2009, when exports slumped by 19.6% and total sales dropped by 19.4% to 286 million square metres.

Confindustria Ceramica's Chairman Franco Manfredini is confident, describing the period not so much as a sector crisis but as a fall in demand in key export areas pushing down sales.

Business leaders are also positive in their outlook and are expecting to recover the ground lost last year. These forecasts are supported by estimates for the second quarter of the year which are expected to confirm the recovery.