The interactive version of the 14th edition of “World Production and Consumption of Ceramic Tiles”, produced by MECS, is available online on the PowerBI platform, alongside a 374-page PDF report.

WPC Online – the main findings of which are previewed in Ceramic World Review – provides a detailed analysis of ten-year trends to 2025 in production, markets, per capita consumption and import-export flows, broken down both by geographical macro-region and by the leading tile producing countries (97) and consuming, exporting and importing countries (195). This year, it also includes an in-depth analysis of porcelain tile imports and exports.

The online platform also includes the 2026-2030 Forecast, with continuously updated five-year projections. (for more info: [email protected])

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Global production still struggling

In 2025, the global ceramic tile industry and market continued the downturn that began in 2022. By contrast, import-export flows reversed direction and returned to 2023 levels.

In 2025, world tile production dropped to 14,401 million sqm from 14,993 million sqm in 2024 (-3.9%). The contraction was entirely attributable to a further decline in Asia, where production fell from 10.9 to 10 billion sqm (-8.4%), equivalent to 69.3% of global output. China alone accounted for a loss of more than one billion sqm, only marginally offset by a combined recovery of 115 million sqm in Vietnam and Indonesia.

Europe produced a total of 1,631 million sqm, equivalent to 11.3% of world production and up slightly (+1%) on 2024. Thanks to the recovery in Italy and Spain, the European Union’s output rose from 1,054 to 1,084 million sqm (+2.8%), despite remaining well below 2021-2022 levels. By contrast, production in non-EU Europe dropped to 547 million sqm (-2.5%), largely due to lower output in Russia.

Production in the Americas recovered to reach 1,460 million sqm, 10.2% of the global total. NorthAmerica’s output rose from 328 to 338 million sqm (+3%), while that of Central and South America increased to 1,122 million sqm (+2%).

Amid declining production in Asia and only modest recoveries elsewhere, Africa emerged as the most dynamic region in 2025. Output grew by 272 million sqm in the space of a year, from 1,047 to 1,319 million sqm (+26%), equivalent to 9.2% of global production. All 23 tile producing countries on the continent recorded growth, with the largest contribution coming from Egypt (352 million sqm; +42.4%), followed by Algeria (168 million sqm), Nigeria (150 million sqm) and Ghana (138 million sqm; +20%). Sub-Saharan Africa and Libya continue to show strong growth, driven by Chinese investment. One of the leading Chinese players in Africa is Twyford (Keda Group), which by 2025 had become the world’s second-largest tile producer with an output of 205 million sqm.

Looking ahead, MECS’s five-year forecasts point to a gradual recovery in world production, potentially reaching 14.8 billion sqm by 2030 (2025-2030 CAGR: +0.5%). The increase is modest due to the continuing negative trend in Asia, where production is expected to decline by 0.6% annually to 9.7 billion sqm by 2030 as China’s contraction continues. All other regions are projected to record growth in production, with a 2025-2030 CAGR of +4.4% in Africa (1,637 million sqm in 2030), +2.3% in South America (1,255 million sqm), +1.1% in the European Union (1,145 million sqm), +3.6% in non-EU Europe (652 million sqm) and +1.9% in North America (371 million sqm).

International trade climbs back to 2.75 billion sq.m

In 2025, world exports resumed growth after three consecutive years of decline, returning to 2023 levels at 2,748 million sqm (+2.5%), 66 million sqm more than in 2024. The recovery extended across most regions of the world. Asia exported 1,484 million sqm (+0.7%), accounting for 54% of global exports. The European Union’s exports increased from 768 to 792 million sqm (+3.1%). Exports from Central and South America rose from 133 to 154 million sqm (+16.6%) and Africa saw an increase from 118 to 149 million sqm (+26%). The main exception was non-EU Europe, where exports fell from 151 to 133 million sqm (-12.3%) due to declines in Turkey and Russia. Exports from North America also fell by 4 million sqm to 35 million sqm (-8.9%).