Italian ceramic industry reports record tile exports in 2014

The 2014 figures for the Italian ceramic industry were unveiled at the Confindustria Ceramica 2015 Members' Meeting held on 9 June this year.

In the year to 31 December 2014 there were 223 manufacturers of ceramic tiles, sanitaryware, tableware and refractory materials operating in Italy with 25,598 employees and a total turnover of 5.687 billion euros, 75% of which was generated by exports.

The tile sector continued to account for the majority of turnover at 4.91 billion euros, while the other three segments generated a combined turnover of 773 million euros.

In 2014 the Italian tile industry consisted of 150 companies (6 fewer than in 2013) with 19,430 employees (1,107 fewer than in 2013) and a total output of 381.7 million sq.m (5% up on 2013).

Like the previous year, the sector's sales exceeded production, allowing it to take a further step towards the gradual rebalancing of warehouse stock. Total sales amounted to 394.6 million sq.m (+1.3%). While the domestic market experienced a further downturn to 80.8 million sq.m (6.6% down on 2013), the export markets continued to recover reaching 313.7 million sq.m (+3.6%).

Growth in value terms was even higher. As Chairman Vittorio Borelli pointed out, this was due to the industry's ability to further raise its average selling price, which now stands at 12.45 €/sq.m (2.6% up on 2013). Export turnover rose by 6.2% to 4.11 billion euros, with an average price of 13.1 €/sq.m (2.5% up on 2013). This result more than compensated for the further fall in turnover in the domestic market (804 million euros, -6.1%), allowing the sector to close the year with a total turnover of 4.91 billion euros (+4%).

The sector's export share reached a record figure of 83.6% in value and 79.5% in volume.

As Borelli noted, the increase in average selling price is a direct result of companies' efforts in the field of product innovation, which enables them to offer products with ever greater added value (today this means primarily large and very large sizes). It is no coincidence that 2014 set another record in terms of technological investments, which at 286.2 million euros absorbed almost 6% of the sector's total turnover. This was a 27% increase on 2013 and the highest value since 2008. The trend is continuing this year with investments estimated at 250 million euros.