Chinese tile exports see further downturn
Chinese tile exports have fallen for the third consecutive year. According to Chinese Customs data, 2016 marked an even more significant decline than the previous two-year period, with volumes dropping by 5.9% from 1.063 billion to 1.000 billion m2.
The decline affected all continents with the exception of Oceania, where Chinese tile imports grew by 7% (from 32.4 million m2 in 2015 to 34.7 million m2).
Asian countries remained the main outlet market for Chinese ceramic tiles. Although Chinese exports to Asia fell slightly in 2016 to 583 million m2 (-1.3%), the region’s percentage share of total Chinese exports rose from 55% to 58%. Eight of the ten top countries of export are in Asia: Philippines, South Korea and Indonesia, all of which saw significant increases (between +21% and +29.5% on 2015), Saudi Arabia, where exports fell from 64 to 49 million m2 (-23%), Thailand (-9.8%), Pakistan (+23.7%), United Arab Emirates (-14.5%) and Cambodia (+17%). Notably, India crashed out of the rankings of China’s Top 10 export markets following the slump in sales from 31.7 million m2 to 11.9 million m2 (-62.3%). On 14 June the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry approved the introduction of antidumping measures on Chinese ceramic tile imports. This will result in the application of duties for a period of 5 years on various types of tiles with the exception of full-body porcelain and panels less than 5 mm thick.
Africa, the second largest geographical area of export for Chinese tiles, saw a 14% contraction with volumes declining from 230 million m2 to 198 million m2. This was mainly due to the 70.9% fall in Nigeria, where exports plummeted from 52.4 million m2 to 15.3 million m2 (-70.9%).
South America also saw a fall for the third consecutive year with sales declining in 2016 to 80 million m2 (-11%). A similar contraction occurred in North America (-11.7%), with exported volumes dropping from 88 to 78 million m2. In this case the positive results in the US market (56.4 million m2, +11%) were not sufficient to offset the slump in sales in Mexico (down from 24.5 to 9.3 million m2, -62%) following the introduction of antidumping duties in 2015.
Chinese exports to Europe continued the downward trend of the past 5 years, again following the introduction of antidumping duties by the EU in 2011. Last year Chinese tile imports to the EU totalled just 15.9 million m2 (down 20.2% on 2015 and 77% over the five-year period). The request to extend the measure for a further five years, an action strongly supported by the entire European ceramic industry, is currently being reviewed by Brussels.
Chinese Exports to non-EU European markets totalled 10.2 million m2 (down 8.7% on 2015), a volume that has practically halved with respect to 2014.
Tab.1: Chinese tile exports by geographical area (m2 x 000)
2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | Var % 16/15 |
Var % 15/14 |
% Share on total 2016 exports |
|
Asia | 584,786 | 569,468 | 572,618 | 590,573 | 583,051 | -1.3% | 3.1% | 58.3% |
Africa | 193,100 | 236,798 | 250,284 | 230,269 | 197,949 | -14.0% | -8.0% | 19.8% |
South America | 118,055 | 129,280 | 103,803 | 89,894 | 80,018 | -11.0% | -13.4% | 8.0% |
North America | 73,309 | 82,713 | 82,077 | 88,577 | 78,238 | -11.7% | 7.9% | 7.8% |
Oceania | 23,284 | 25,607 | 28,866 | 32,424 | 34,742 | 7.1% | 12.3% | 3.5% |
European Union | 31,980 | 26,512 | 23,690 | 19,980 | 15,949 | -20.2% | -15.7% | 1.6% |
Other Europe | 19,227 | 24,832 | 22,146 | 11,174 | 10,204 | -8.7% | -49.5% | 1.0% |
TOTAL | 1,043,741 | 1,095,210 | 1,083,484 | 1,062,891 | 1,000,151 | -5.9% | -1.9% | 100.0% |
Tab.2: The largest markets for Chinese tile exports (m2 x 000)
2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | Var % 16/15 |
Var % 15/14 |
% Share on total 2016 exports |
|
Philippines | 34,189 | 41,099 | 47,223 | 52,867 | 67,336 | 27.4% | 12.0% | 6.7% |
South Korea | 54,058 | 54,561 | 68,274 | 54,430 | 65,855 | 21.0% | -20.3% | 6.6% |
Indonesia | 35,034 | 34,982 | 44,461 | 44,053 | 57,046 | 29.5% | -0.9% | 5.7% |
USA | 41,219 | 48,155 | 46,789 | 50,757 | 56,363 | 11.0% | 8.5% | 5.6% |
Saudi Arabia | 87,397 | 81,439 | 63,404 | 63,985 | 49,179 | -23.1% | 0.9% | 4.9% |
Thailand | 40,610 | 55,679 | 38,218 | 44,508 | 40,166 | -9.8% | 16.5% | 4.0% |
Pakistan | 12,304 | 13,780 | 19,011 | 27,250 | 33,716 | 23.7% | 43.3% | 3.4% |
Australia | 19,560 | 22,288 | 25,163 | 28,347 | 30,327 | 7.0% | 12.7% | 3.0% |
United Arab Emirates | 36,111 | 35,920 | 33,865 | 34,549 | 29,547 | -14.5% | 2.0% | 3.0% |
Cambodia | 11,959 | 13,371 | 17,420 | 23,429 | 27,443 | 17.1% | 34.5% | 2.7% |
Other countries | 671,300 | 693,936 | 679,656 | 638,716 | 543,173 | -15.0% | -6.0% | 54.3% |
TOTAL | 1,043,741 | 1,095,210 | 1,083,484 | 1,062,891 | 1,000,151 | -5.9% | -1.9% | 100.0% |
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