Refractory materials 07 July 2025 The Italian refractory materials sector consists of 30 companies employing approximately 1,600 people. In 2024, production stood at 270,000 tonnes, of which approximately 60% was represented by shaped refractory products, while the remaining 40% 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 2024, Italian refractory manufacturers supplied these sectors with almost 270,000 tonnes of product, more than half of which (51%) went to foreign customers. On the other hand, 49% of sales were on the domestic market. In terms of value, the sector had a turnover of over €348 million in 2024, of which over €188 million came from exports (55%), compared to a sales value in Italy of around €160 million.
