The health emergency related to the worldwide spread of Covid has also had heavy repercussions in the ceramics sector. Talking about the data and the general trend of the Italian ceramics market is Confindustria Ceramica, which presented the final 2019 data showing the first evidence.
The ceramics sector is reported to be suffering, "Our industry has lost more than 350 million euros in turnover in two months of lockdown, with the need for heavy use of layoffs that is likely to continue at least until Christmas," said Confindustria Ceramica President Giovanni Savorani.
The first effects of the epidemic were not long in coming, and the sector is increasingly in need of organic and structural support. For President Savorani, "Jobs are not defended by decree; to revive the economy and employment, we need investment, bureaucratic simplification, and direct support for businesses."
The 2019 final data
The 2019 final figures were presented at the annual meeting and clarified the snapshot of the past year of activity.
According to the data, total turnover in 2019 remained stable from the previous year (-0.7 percent) at 6.5 billion euros, including 4.8 billion euros in exports.
The vast majority of turnover (80 percent) is driven by the tile industry, where 135 companies, 224 factories and 19,318 employees (274 fewer than in 2018) are active.
What about production? As of year-end 2019, production was down 3.56 percent to 400.7 million sq. m., aligning with total sales (406.9 million sq. m., -0.78 percent).
Sales on the domestic market were stable, generating a value of 832 million euros; slightly down on exports, which fell to 323.4 million sq m (-1.3%), for a value of 4.5 billion euros (-0.83%), accounting for 84% of total industry sales, which remained in line with 2018 levels at 5.34 billion euros (-0.73%).
The post Covid situation
The two-month lockdown has had a heavy impact on the sector. Operators are confident that the 110% Superbonus for energy efficiency and seismic interventions provided for in the Relaunch Decree is the right way to boost investment in the construction sector and, as a result, also reactivate the tile market.
Losses have been significant: we are talking about 350 million in sales, with companies in liquidity crisis and employees laid off. Some companies have reduced production capacity by 50 percent. That is why it is important that, in the domestic market, there is a strong driver for investment such as the Superbonus.
At the same time, while we still have uncertain voices from Italy, foreign markets are sending comforting signals on the sale of Italian tiles, with a recovery especially in U.S. trade.
