The turnovers of Italian ceramic companies (2007)

The annual presentation of turnover data of the leading Italian ceramic companies is being published in the soon-to-be-released June issue of Tile Italia.
Eagerly anticipated by industry professionals, the results of the survey for individual companies reflect the performance of the sector as a whole and confirm a number of trends that have been under way for several years.
More than 72% of national turnover (5,785.7 million euro) is generated by the top 10 industrial groups, which have demonstrated an exceptional ability to adapt to changes in market conditions.
Six of these groups are full-scale multinationals (there are a total of nine in Italy) with production and distribution branches abroad. One of the most significant initiatives abroad is that of the acquisition of a shareholding in the historic Portuguese company Poceram by Gambarelli Group.

Another positive and necessary trend that has been under way in recent years is that of industrial concentration. Three companies in particular have been in the news in recent months:
- at the end of 2007 the Casalgrande Padana Group acquired Riwal to become one of the ten largest groups;
- the Abk Group continued its plan of acquisition of historic brand names by taking over the manufacturing division of Sir Tile and the commercial division of Flaviker Pisa;
- last month Impronta Ceramiche signed a leasing contract for the commercial division of Ceramica Magica.

Marazzi Group retains its position at the top of the rankings with a turnover of almost a billion euro (2.1% up on the 2006 result). Concorde Group is in second place with 11.9% year-on-year growth, the best growth performance. Coop. Ceramica d'Imola Group is third followed by Panaria Group, which has risen by one position in the rankings to fourth place overtaking the Florim Group.
The rest of the top ten consists of the Iris Group (including significant 15.2% growth by GranitiFiandre), followed by Casalgrande Padana with a group turnover of 294 million euro, then Ceramiche Ricchetti, Emilceramica and Faetano-Del Conca.