The Italian Ceramic Industry The Italian ceramic industry comprises six distinct sectors: ceramic tiles, bricks, refractories, sanitaryware, tableware and technical ceramics Ceramic tiles There are 117 companies in Italy which produced 390.9 million square metres in 2025 and employ 17,676 people directly. Approximately 88% 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 2025, the sector sold a total of 386.9 million square metres, of which approximately 80% was destined for foreign markets (301.7 million square metres). Sanitaryware There are 31 industrial companies producing ceramic sanitaryware in Italy, 28 of which are located in the Civita Castellana district (Viterbo), the most important national production centre for this sector. In 2025, the sector employed 2,700 people directly and produced 3.1 million pieces. Tableware The Italian porcelain and tableware ceramics industry consists of eight companies, employing approximately 680 people. In 2025, they produced over 9,600 tonnes and sold a total of 9,600 tonnes of finished products. Refractory Materials 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. Clay building materials There are 57 manufacturers of clay building materials (bricks, blocks and roof tiles) in Italy, employing a total workforce of around 3,000 people. In 2025, production was carried out at 76 plants and amounted to 3.9 million tonnes. Technical Ceramics The Italian technical ceramics industry produces a wide and diverse range of ceramic components suitable for numerous industrial applications. The sector comprises highly specialised companies manufacturing “advanced ceramic materials” with exceptional technical characteristics, including hardness, lightness, electrical and thermal insulation, and resistance to wear, corrosion and high temperatures. (2025 data – Confindustria Ceramica) Links Over 1.1 billion euros for bricks, refractories and tableware
Ceramic tiles There are 117 companies in Italy which produced 390.9 million square metres in 2025 and employ 17,676 people directly. Approximately 88% 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 2025, the sector sold a total of 386.9 million square metres, of which approximately 80% was destined for foreign markets (301.7 million square metres). Sanitaryware There are 31 industrial companies producing ceramic sanitaryware in Italy, 28 of which are located in the Civita Castellana district (Viterbo), the most important national production centre for this sector. In 2025, the sector employed 2,700 people directly and produced 3.1 million pieces. Tableware The Italian porcelain and tableware ceramics industry consists of eight companies, employing approximately 680 people. In 2025, they produced over 9,600 tonnes and sold a total of 9,600 tonnes of finished products. Refractory Materials 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. Clay building materials There are 57 manufacturers of clay building materials (bricks, blocks and roof tiles) in Italy, employing a total workforce of around 3,000 people. In 2025, production was carried out at 76 plants and amounted to 3.9 million tonnes. Technical Ceramics The Italian technical ceramics industry produces a wide and diverse range of ceramic components suitable for numerous industrial applications. The sector comprises highly specialised companies manufacturing “advanced ceramic materials” with exceptional technical characteristics, including hardness, lightness, electrical and thermal insulation, and resistance to wear, corrosion and high temperatures. (2025 data – Confindustria Ceramica)
