Italian tiles on display at Revestir 2013

This year just under twenty Italian ceramic floor and wall tile producers are taking part in Revestir 2013, the international architecture and building exhibition taking place from 5 to 8 March in the Transamerica Expo Center in São Paulo, Brazil.

The Pavilhão Oficial Italiano de Revestimento, organised by the Italian Trade Commission ICE in partnership with the Italian ceramic producers' association Confindustria Ceramica, is hosting the companies Atlas Concorde, Casalgrande Padana, Cerdisa, Edimax, FAP, Marazzi, Edilgres - Kale Italia, Refin and Ricchetti under the banner of Ceramics of Italy. Cooperativa Ceramica d'Imola, Emilceramica, Florim, Gardenia-Orchidea, Italgraniti, Mirage and Fiandre are also taking part with independent stands.

The show is also hosting Italian producers of marble, granite, natural stone and aluminium cladding.

Revestir is an important showcase for Italian companies as it is the top South American event aimed at a quality audience of architects, interior decorators, contractors, buyers and distributors. It is also the gateway to the Brazilian market, which is highly receptive to high-end products for use in the construction sector, including both public and residential building.

Although high import duties mean that sales of Italian tiles are still very low (just over 400,000 square metres a year), Brazil is nonetheless a very attractive market for the Italian ceramic industry. It is a fast-growing country with some 200 million inhabitants, registering almost US $270 billion of investments in construction in 2011 (35% residential and 40% public works).

In 2011 sales of ceramic tiles totalled 785.3 million square metres (due to the high import duties, this consisted almost entirely of domestic products). Initial estimates for 2012 are for almost 820 million sq.m.