Economics and markets

The United States is confirmed as an important market for world tile producers

Production reaches 157 million sq.m in 2004

Production reached 104.209 million sq.m in 2004, 27% up on 2003

Ascer chairman gives an upbeat message during the pre-Christmas meeting with the Spanish press

Assopiastrelle and Giorgio Olivieri & Associati publish annual report entitled “Costs by product type and average revenues in the ceramic tile industry”.

Production just 601.5 million sq.m. Growth of 1% expected in 2005

Estimates suggest 4% growth in the German ceramic tile market in the first half of 2004

Assopiastrelle unveils 24th National Statistical Survey. Fall in sales and turnover

Fall in the domestic and European markets. Exports hold strong, with increase in the Middle East and Asia

Rising demand for high-quality products together with a fall in import duties.

Sales of local products stable, imports increasing

Sales substantially stable in Europe and strong in Africa. Turnover down above all in the Americas, Asia and the Middle East.

The “Forecasting report for the world ceramic tile market paints a fairly rosy picture for the Spanish tile industry in 2004-2005. A smaller recovery for Italy

Preliminary end-of-year results indicate a 4.9% increase in production and a 27% increase in exports

In 2003 the NAR registered growth in all market segments

General world shared indices

Share indices of companies in ceramic and allied industries

Production and total sales fall, although the outlook remains positive for 2004

Presentation of survey conducted by Assopiastrelle and Giorgio Olivieri & Associati entitled “Costs by product type and average revenues in the ceramic tile industry”

Investments in Europe stationary as markets shift eastward. Signs of recovery for first half of 2004