A stagnant 2004 for Italian tiles
Total sales increased by just 0.4% and production dropped to 601.5 million sq.m (0.3% down on 2003).
These preliminary figures for 2004 were announced during the conference “Italian tile industry: market scenarios and international competitiveness”, organised annually by Assopiastrelle and held this year on 16 December in Sassuolo.
The Italian tile industry’s best performance came in the domestic market with 1.3% growth over 2003. At the press conference, Assopiastrelle’s chairman Sergio Sassi announced that in 2005 the association will be investing substantial resources in communication, including a marketing campaign to promote the use and quality of ceramic tiles over other materials.
Export figures remain identical to those of 2003 (418 million square metres), although exported quantities show different trends in different geographical areas. Exports to North America continue to increase in terms of quantities (+5.2%), although the value of Italian exports has been badly affected by the euro/dollar exchange rate.
Exports to the rest of the EU are again increasing (+1.1%), whereas the markets of Central and Eastern Europe and the rest of the world are contracting (down 5.4% and 6.2% respectively).
Initial forecasts for 2005 suggest an increase of 1.2-1.3% in production, total sales and exports.
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