«Revisione delle regole europee priorità per restare competitivi»

The European Union is saving Italy's ceramic industry despite the bloc itself hindering its competitiveness. According to data from Confindustria Ceramica, exports of ceramic tiles to the EU increased in volume (+4.8%, reaching 94.3 million cubic meters) and value (+3.4%, surpassing half a billion euros) in the first six months of the year, confirming the positive trend from 2025.

Other parts of Europe also showed some satisfaction, with a +2.9% increase in volume and a +1.6% rise in value. Italy remained stable, with a +0.7% increase in volume and a -0.8% drop in value. This oxygen boost is crucial for an industry that is otherwise recording losses in every other market, starting from the United States - a market alone worth 700 million euros in exports annually.

Duties play a significant role: even though losses in volume were contained at -0.2% in 2025, companies feel the need to lower prices in terms of value (-5.1%) to stay competitive and avoid losing their market positioning. The disparity between sales in volume and sales in value is the key to interpreting the first-half data and the current economic scenario of the sector, as suggested by Confindustria Ceramica's president, Augusto Ciarrocchi, ahead of the most important international industry fair, Cersaie, which will take place in Bologna from tomorrow to Friday.