Larger quantities of German clays to be shipped to Italy

On 23 June, Confindustria Ceramica and BKRI signed a Memorandum of Understanding to boost German clay supplies to the Italian ceramic industry.

According to a Memorandum of Understanding signed on 23 June in Munich between Confindustria Ceramica and BKRI (Bundesverband Keramische Rohstoffe und Industrieminerale, the German association of producers of raw materials for ceramics and industrial minerals), shipments of German clays for use by the Italian tile industry will be increased by 10% by the end of August and by up to 30% by the end of December.

The interruption in supplies from Ukraine has prompted the two associations to strengthen their longstanding partnership. For many years, the Italian tile industry has been importing around one million tonnes per year of German raw materials, mainly clays, which are transported on dedicated trains. Logistics will play a crucial role in guaranteeing not just the effectiveness and continuity of existing shipments but also of the planned additional flows.

Under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding, the parties undertake to work together and in collaboration with DB Cargo to ensure that the current issues encountered on the Germany-Italy rail route are resolved rapidly and satisfactorily.

The meeting was attended by BKRI Chairman Guido Faber, the Chairman of Confindustria Ceramica’s Transport and Raw Materials Committee Mario Roncaglia, the Managing Directors of the two associations Matthias Schlotmann and Armando Cafiero, representatives of the largest German mining companies and DB Cargo, and the Italian Consul General in Munich, Minister Plenipotentiary Enrico De Agostini.