Confindustria Ceramica unveiled i USEFULL key of the 2024 for the world of Italian ceramics: a lively and varied sector, which includes tiles, slabs, sanitary ceramics, porcelain, tableware, refractory materials, technical ceramics and bricks. There are 248 active Italian companies, with over 26 thousand direct employees and a turnover and exceeds 7,5 billion euros. But it is not just a "home-grown" business: thanks to subsidiaries in Europe and North America, theexports are worth almost a billion euro.
Tiles and slabs: volumes growing, turnover slightly decreasing
Sales of ceramic tiles and slabs reach 378,3 million square meters (+2,5%), while production drops slightly (-1,1%) to 369,8 million square meters. Turnover stands at approximately 6,1 billion euros, with a decrease of 1,8%, of which 5 billion comes from exports, which represent 82% of the total turnover. Foreign sales show a 3,1% increase in volumes, reaching 293,5 million square meters, while the domestic market grows moderately (+0,4%).
- investments of the sector stop at 382 million euros, down 19,4% compared to 2023, but still represent 6,3% of the turnover, a sign of the need for continuous innovation despite the difficulties.
The wider panorama: sanitary ceramics, refractory materials, bricks and tableware
The sector of the sanitary ceramics, mainly concentrated in the Civita Castellana district, has 31 companies and approximately 2.700 employees, with a production of over 3 million pieces and a turnover of 414 million euros. refractory materials, with 30 companies and 1.546 employees, show a slight positive sign (+1%) in turnover, reaching 348 million euros. bricks, with 57 producers and 3.000 employees, generate 700 million euros mainly on the national market, while the ceramic tableware, the smallest segment, recorded a 3% growth in turnover, reaching 57,8 million euros.
Energy and costs: the shadow of the Ets system
Augusto Ciarrocchi, president of Confindustria Ceramica, highlights how the growing energy related costs and Ets quotes are weighing on the sector. “The level of Est quotations and its application mechanism make the quotas paid a heavy 'tax on production' which, going from 10 euros in 2018 to the current 75, is worth 120 million euros per year in extra costs. Values that drain precious resources from investments in efficiency and innovation of companies.”
To address this situation, Confindustria Ceramica is asking "to be included among the sectors eligible for compensation for indirect costs and to suspend the reduction in free quotas planned for 2026, while waiting to have a real technological alternative." At the national level, the request is "to eliminate the difference between Psv and Ttf, which varies between 2 and 4/5 euros per MWh, and the implementation of a Gas Release adequate to operational possibilities, which responds in a structural way to the needs of companies."
International Trade: Tariffs and Unfair Competition
President Ciarrocchi highlights how “theUS-EU agreement on duties represents an essential step, to be achieved as soon as possible.” He also explains that “one of the so-called reasons why the administration Trump has placed the duties is to bring the factories back to the United States, something that Italian ceramics has been doing for some time, and today it covers a third of US production.”
The growth of imports of Indian pottery in Europe is worrying: "products incorporating state aid, economic, environmental and social dumping increased by 67% in 2023, remained substantially stable in 2024 and then resumed rising by 10% in the first quarter of 2025." Ciarrocchi calls for a intervention decided, since "the level of anti-dumping duties existing today in Europe is too low and is systematically absorbed.” He also proposes that “the discussion for the creation of an EU-India free trade area should exclude ceramics until the problems are resolved.” Finally, he hopes for the introduction of a European regulations on name from, to ensure transparency and consumer protection.
Infrastructure and logistics: a test bed
Le infrastructure are a key issue for ceramic districts, aggravated by the temporary closure of the bridge over the Secchia river. “The table set up between local administrations, trade associations and trade unions has identified a series of actions aimed at reducing the inconvenience,” explains Ciarrocchi. “Our companies, on a voluntary basis, have made themselves available to extend access to the warehouses for the delivery of raw materials, in order to reduce the pressure on traffic during rush hour. Information has also been distributed to customers and Italian and foreign transporters.”
The president concludes by hoping that “once the emergency is over, we can proceed quickly with the construction of the third bridge over the Secchia in the piedmont area, with the start of construction work on the Campogalliano-Sassuolo motorway link and the connected roads and connections, starting with the doubling of the Pedemontana in the municipality of Sassuolo – a real bottleneck along the east-west axis.”
Cersaie 2025: sold out three months before opening
Despite the difficulties, the 42th edition of Cersaie confirms its role as a point of reference for the ceramic sector, recording the sold out three months after opening on 155 thousand square meters, with an increase of 10 thousand meters compared to 2023. TheOpening of Pavilion 19, dedicated to the world of installation, and the expansion of the space reserved for bathroom furnishings confirm the interest of operators and investors, underlining the centrality of this event for production, distribution and the world of design.
