Ceramic tiles

There are 122 companies in Italy, which produced 369.8 million square metres in 2024 and employ 18,009 people directly. Over 90% of production takes place in the Emilia-Romagna region, particularly in the industrial district of Sassuolo, which stretches between the provinces of Modena and Reggio Emilia. In 2024, the sector sold a total of 378.3 million square metres, of which approximately 80% was destined for foreign markets.

Sales in Italy in 2024 amounted to just under 85 million square metres, representing approximately 20% of the sector's sales in terms of quantity. Among the various types of product, porcelain stoneware is of paramount importance in Italian production, accounting for over 90% of the total. However, there are also single-fired, double-fired and other niche products.

The total turnover of Italian tile manufacturers reached €6,062 million in 2024, with exports accounting for almost €5 billion (approximately 85%) and domestic sales accounting for €1.1 billion (approximately 15%). The Italian ceramic tile industry stands out for its high propensity to invest, which has accounted for an average of around 7% of total turnover over the last decade. In 2024, investments fell sharply, down 19.4% to €382 million, but still accounting for 6.3% of turnover.

Outside Italy, there are also 17 manufacturing companies controlled by nine Italian groups. These foreign companies, located in various European countries and the United States, employ a total of over 3,000 people and produced approximately 74 million square metres in 2024, with a total turnover of €904 million, resulting from sales of €487 million from activities in Europe and the remaining €417 million from sales in North America.

Considering the internationalisation of production, the Italian ceramic tile industry has a global value of approximately €7 billion.