World sanitaryware imports and exports (2024)

Acimac Research Dept. / MECS updates the yearly analysis of the world ceramic sanitaryware imports/exports flows. The figures confirm a 6.6% increase in 2024 to 3.72 million tonnes.

Between 2010 and 2024, global trade in ceramic sanitaryware grew by 72% from 2.16 million to 3.72 million tonnes, equivalent to a compound annual growth rate of 4%. After a decade of almost consistently positive growth, global sanitaryware exports peaked in 2021 (+17.3% due to the post-pandemic boom) before declining over the following two years. A fresh recovery came in 2024 with a +6.6% increase on 2023, driven almost exclusively by the performance of China.

Breakdown of exports by geographical area and major exporting countries

With 2.68 million tonnes exported in 2024 (+15.4% on 2023), Asia saw its share of global sanitaryware exports increase to 72%. This result was almost entirely attributable to China, which reached exports of 2.17 million tonnes (+19.7% on 2023). This figure, an all-time high for China, accounted for 81% of Asian exports and 58.4% of the global total. India, the world’s third largest exporter, experienced a 4.6% decline (253,000 tonnes), while Thailand also saw a slight contraction (-2.4%). By contrast, exports from Iran and Vietnam increased (+22.2% and +9.8%, respectively).

Exports from the European Union remained broadly in line with 2023 levels at 432,000 tonnes (-0.3%). The region’s three largest exporting countries – Poland, Germany and Portugal, which alone account for half of EU exports – all recorded small declines of between -1.7% and -2.4%.

After a positive 2023, North America (NAFTA) experienced a sharp fall in exports in 2024 to 276,000 tonnes (-28.5%). This decline was almost entirely attributable to Mexico (253,000 tonnes; -28%), which nonetheless remained the world’s second largest exporter (tied with India) after China.

Non-EU European countries also saw a fall in exports in 2024 (-10.9% to 177,000 tonnes). Turkey, the main exporter in this area and the world’s fourth largest exporter overall, recorded a 16.5% decline in foreign sales to 128,000 tonnes.

Finally, Africa and South America have fairly similar export volumes. Africa remained at roughly the same level as in the previous four years, at 79,000 tonnes (-1.5%), while South America’s exports grew by 9.3% to 76,000 tonnes.

Taken together, the 10 largest sanitaryware exporting countries accounted for 86% of global exports.

Asia represents 72% of global exports

An analysis of the variations in exports from each individual area of production over the last 14 years clearly reveals the growth of Asia. The continent’s exports have grown by over 140% over the period, increasing from 1.1 million tonnes in 2010 to 2.68 million tonnes in 2024 (CAGR 2024/2010 +6.6%) and eroding the global export shares of almost all other areas. The EU’s share of world exports fell from 24.2% in 2010 to 11.6% in 2024; the NAFTA region’s share declined from 12.4% to 7.4%; South America’s share dropped from 4.6% in 2010 to 2%, with volumes trending down over the period. Non-EU European countries were able to limit the decline in their share of world exports (from 6% to 4.8%) thanks to a 34% increase in exported volumes. Africa was the sole exception, with an increase in share of global trade from 1.7% to 2.1% on the back of 119% growth in export volumes over the period.

Asia and North America are the two major importing areas

An analysis of sanitaryware imports in 2024 by continent not only confirms Asia and North America as the two main destination regions but also reveals that their imported volumes were almost level: Asia imported 1.13 million tonnes (+13.3% on 2023), equivalent to 30% of world imports, while North America imported 1 million tonnes (+3.4% on 2023), corresponding to 27% of the total. The European Union followed a short way behind with imports of 753,000 tonnes in 2024 (+6.8% on 2023), accounting for 20.3% of the global total.

The remaining 23% of world imports were shared between Africa, South America, non-EU European countries and Oceania.

The 10 largest sanitaryware importing countries

Overall in 2024, the ten largest sanitaryware importing countries accounted for 48.3% of global imports (1.80 million tonnes). The ranking shows several changes in position compared to the previous year.

The United States confirmed its status as the world’s largest sanitaryware importer with 851,000 tonnes (+4.7% on 2023). This volume represented 23% of global imports, the same share as in 2010. Other importing countries trailed some way behind: Germany and South Korea each imported 123,000 tonnes, the United Kingdom and France 116,000 tonnes, Spain and Saudi Arabia between 106,000 and 111,000 tonnes, and Vietnam, Mexico and Canada between 78,000 and 93,000 tonnes.

Among the 10 largest importing countries, only France and Canada saw a decline in imports in 2024 (by 5.4% and 18% respectively). Of the remaining eight, five recorded double-digit growth, the highest being that of Vietnam (+27%).

Mexico, Germany and Vietnam appear in the rankings of both the top 10 exporters and the top 10 importers, although only Mexico exports more sanitaryware than it imports.

Exports inside and outside the geographical areas of production

Finally, an analysis of the main export destinations according to the geographical areas of production shows that in four out of seven regions the vast majority of exports remain within the same geographical area or continent. Some 97.5% of exports from the NAFTA region (mainly Mexico) remain in North America (effectively the United States); 77% of South American exports stay within Latin America; 79% of European Union exports are destined for EU markets; and 69% of Oceania’s exports remain in Oceania.

At the other extreme, 83% of exports from non-EU Europe are sold in other regions, mainly the EU, which is Turkey’s leading export market. Similarly, 76% of African exports are shipped to destinations outside Africa and 60% of Asian exports are sold outside the Asian continent, reflecting China’s capacity to sell its products in almost every region of the world.

Explore further with the charts and tables published in Ceramic World Review 164/2025