An brilliant 2016 for the ceramic tile industry

The ceramics industry remains one of the most dynamic sectors in the construction chain. The balance sheet for 2016 as presented at the annual Shareholders' Meeting of Confindustria Ceramica provided a distinctly positive picture: the national production of tiles has recovered the pre-crisis levels reaching 416 million square metres (+5.4% as compared to 2015), such as to enable sales for 414.5 million square metres (+4.5%). The increase was most marked (+5.9%) in terms of turnover thanks to an improvement in the average prices, now approaching 14 EUR per square metre.

Foreign trade confirms its crucial role, with a share of exports on turnover equal to 85%; the increase in export flows has exceeded 6% (at value), benefiting from the particularly dynamic nature of sales on the traditional markets in Western Europe (Spain, Germany and France). The first cautious signs of recovery of the national construction industry have also favoured a trend reversal in sales on the internal market (83 million m², + 3.2%), albeit still at strongly scaled levels compared to the years before the crisis. 

The manufacturing upgrading process has proved a cardinal factor for the success of the ceramic tile sector - via the adoption of the most advanced technologies, the modernisation of the plants and production lines - resulting in a new record level of investments, rising for the third consecutive year (400 million EUR, +14% in relation to the previous year). A further acceleration is expected for 2017, boosted by the incentives provided for by the Industry 4.0 plan.