The Italian brick, refractory and tableware sectors generate a combined turnover exceeding €1 billion

The industry comprises 252 companies in Italy and employs over 26,200 people. Key sectors include the production of ceramic tiles, ceramic sanitaryware, tableware, refractory materials, and bricks, which generated over €7.5 billion in turnover last year, as revealed by the National Statistical Survey on the Italian ceramic industry for 2023.

In particular, the sectors of bricks and refractory materials stand out at the European level for the extensive range of products placed on the market. Meanwhile, the tableware sector remains a historical pillar of Italian manufacturing, showcasing globally renowned brands. These three sectors comprise 98 companies, employ over 5,200 people, and collectively generate over €1 billion in turnover.

Bricks and roof tiles
The sector of Italian brick manufacturers consists of 59 companies, employing a total of 3,000 people. In 2023, there were 77 production sites with an estimated turnover of approximately €650 million. Total production totalled 3.96 million tonnes, marking a 14% decrease from 2022. Specifically, the production of bricks and normal masonry blocks decreased by 14.3% and the production of lightweight blocks fell by 22.0%. The production of hollow bricks and slabs also decreased (-7.5%), as did lintel foundations. There was also a decrease in the production of floors (-18.2%), roofs (-7.3%) and exposed bricks (-17.3%). Regionally, companies located in the north-west of the country saw a 12.9% drop in total production, while companies located in the north-east experienced a larger decrease of 23.8%. In central Italy, production fell by 8.2%, while total production in the south decreased by 9.1% compared to 2022.
 
Refractory materials
The 30 companies that produce refractory materials in the country employ 1,566 people (a 4% decrease from 2022), and produced 252,470 tonnes, a 16% decrease. In 2023, total sales reached 252,922 tonnes, a 15% decline from the previous year, of which 118,802 tonnes were sold in Italy (-8% compared to 2022; representing 47% of total sales), 71,334 tonnes were sold to EU countries (-27%; 28%) and 62,786 tonnes were sold to non-EU countries (-9%; 25%). Total turnover amounted to €344.5 million (an 8% decrease from 2022). This included domestic sales of €137.7 million (-9% compared to 2022; representing 40% of total turnover), EU exports of €97.1 million (-19%; 28%) and non-EU exports of €109.7 million (+7%; 32%).
 
Ceramic tableware
As of 31 December 2023, there were 9 industrial companies specialising in the production of porcelain and ceramic tableware. These companies employed a total of 656 people and produced approximately 9,900 tonnes of finished products. Of this, sales amounted to 8,760 tonnes, with the domestic market accounting for about 80% of the total and the remaining 20% was exported to international markets. In 2023, the turnover from porcelain and ceramic tableware sales exceeded €55 million. Of this, the domestic market contributed €36.5 million (65% of total turnover), while €19.5 million (35% of total turnover) was generated from international markets.