Economics and markets

The decline in investments in the construction sector in many countries worldwide has also affected manufacturers of capital goods for the ceramic industry. The industry’s revenue has fallen by 3.5% to 2.1 billion euros. Exports have been the worst hit with a 4.3% decline.

According to figures unveiled by Confindustria Ceramica for the performance of the three sectors in 2018, refractories and tableware performed well but the sanitaryware industry saw a downturn.

Tile production dropped to 415 million sq.m (-1.6%), while the sector’s turnover fell by 3% to 5.4 billion euros. Investments in technology remained very high at more than 500 million euros.

US ceramic tile companies filed a petition with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission to impose antidumping duties on Chinese imports.

The new study by Acimac Research Department examines the 2015-2017 economic and financial data for 345 companies, of which 75 operating in Italy, 72 in Spain and 198 in other countries worldwide.

According to TCNA forecasts, in 2019 overall sales of US ceramic tiles will be flat or experience low, single-digit growth.

Confindustria Ceramica Chairman Giovanni Savorani describes the various factors that have contributed to the slowdown of the sector as well as the measures that have been put in place to exploit new opportunities.

While carpet and hardwood are suffering a decrease of their market share, the US floor covering market experiences the strong advance of LVT.

According to the 86th Euroconstruct Conference report, building production in the area will grow until 2021 (+2.8% in 2018).

The 26th CRESME Outlook and Forecast Report reveals a sector-wide recovery that is expected to continue at least until 2022.

US tile consumption grew just 1.2% in 2018 to about 288 million sq.m. Domestic sales of US tile dropped to 84 million sq.m, while imports rose to 205 million sq.m (+5%), mainly from China, Spain and Brazil.

Canadian imports and consumption of ceramic tiles decreased to 41 million sq.m in 2018.

New home starts in the U.S. achieved 1.26 million units in 2018, but 2019 will be flat after nine consecutive years of growth.

The funds will be used to build social and low-cost housing for the poorest sections of the Nigerian population.

Ceramicolor reports a continued positive performance on the part of the sector in 2018, driven by technological development despite sharp rises in raw materials costs.

Major real-estate and urban development projects will upgrade the city’s image over the next few years.

The Kenyan government’s housing plan involves investments of around $13 billion.

Saudi Arabia’s construction sector is expected to see strong growth with investments of $44 billion planned in 2019 alone.

Acimac Research Dept. updates the yearly analysis of the world ceramic sanitaryware imports/exports flows. Following a two-year period of total stability, sanitaryware exports resumed their upward trend in 2017 reaching 3.1 million tonnes, with a 5.4% growth compared to 2016.

After five years of uninterrupted growth, the Italian ceramic tile industry experienced a downturn in 2018 with production, sales and exports all seeing falls of between 2% and 3%.