Refractory materials 06 July 2026 The Italian refractory materials sector consists of 29 companies employing approximately 1,540 people. In 2025, production stood at 270,200 tonnes, of which approximately 58% was represented by shaped refractory products, while the remaining 42% was represented by unshaped refractory products. The sector is an important supplier of key industrial components for other industrial sectors, including the steel, glass, ceramics and brick industries. In 2025, Italian refractory manufacturers supplied these sectors with almost 269,000 tonnes of product, of which 49% went to foreign customers. On the other hand, 51% of sales were on the domestic market. In terms of value, the sector generated a turnover of approximately 326 million euros in 2025, of which 188 million came from exports (53%), compared to a sales value in Italy of around 153 million euros.
