ANFFECC sees signs of recovery

Fernando Fabra, Chairman of the Spanish ceramic frit, glaze and pigment producers’ association, confirms signs of recovery in the first quarter of 2025 following two challenging years for the sector.

The Annual General Meeting of ANFFECC, the Spanish ceramic frit, glaze and pigment producers’ association, was held on Friday 11 April. Opening the meeting, Chairman Fernando Fabra reviewed the industry’s recent performance, noting that companies in the sector have shown strong resilience and are beginning to emerge from the demand crisis of the past two years. 2024 also saw negative results for Spanish frit and colour producers, with revenue down by 5.4%, mainly due to a sharp 10.2% drop in exports.

However, Fabra noted that “the first quarter of 2025 has got off to a promising start and we are seeing renewed confidence in the potential for recovery in international markets”.

One example is Algeria, an important market for the sector which has seen a rebound in trade after a two-year standstill and has the potential to regain its position as a leading destination for Spanish ceramic frit and glaze exports.

Another encouraging sign is the 3.6% increase in employment recorded in 2024, despite the overall decline in sales. To support the recovery this year, ANFFECC member companies agree on the importance of continuing to invest in innovation and decarbonisation, with projects that will enable the industry to meet European targets.

One of these is the H2frit project, which, as Fabra pointed out, “is delivering very encouraging results and has also received the RENMAD Award for Innovation in Hydrogen”.

Funded by the Valencian Regional Government as a strategic industrial initiative, H2frit is exploring the technical feasibility of replacing natural gas with hydrogen as a fuel in the production of ceramic frits.

While results so far suggest that this is technically achievable, Fabra stressed that its future “will depend on both the guaranteed supply of hydrogen and its cost – key factors for maintaining profitability and competitiveness in international markets”.