Main markets in Spain started to reduce their purchases of tiles

Billing figures continue to be positive, while international sales in volume are starting to reflect an additional significant percentage decline in demand. while its turnover grows by 30% in the first two months of the year, On a volume basis, it grew by only 1.4% compared to the same period of 2021. Moreover, especially considering the February data, there was a 19.7% increase in value exports while a decrease in volume. Compared to February 2021 –7.7%. “These data show that the increase in sectoral export value is due to the rise in prices that companies have to pass on due to increased costs, but sales, in volume, are starting to decline”, explains the Ascer tile employer.

In this sense, although Ascer has increased the prices of its products, “companies absorb a large part of the increase in costs, not only for energy but also for other raw materials, to the detriment of their income statements and profitability. Trying to maintain their international competitiveness. But markets try not to absorb the price increases. starts and delays the product purchase,” he said.

By country and region and considering February only, the European Union, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and the United States rose in value but fell in volume. The Maghreb, for its part, has fallen in both magnitudes.

The decline in the international trade of ceramic coatings is especially significant when analyzed on a country basis. Thus, Tile of Spain’s top two destinations are growing in turnover but significantly reducing their purchases in value: France fell 6% and the US cut its purchases by 19%. When only the top ten international destinations for Spanish pottery are analyzed, the following also decrease in volume: Saudi Arabia (27%), Morocco (39%), Israel (15%) and Belgium (13%). On the contrary, only Italy remains stable, while the UK, Germany and Portugal are growing in both turnover and volume.

Coup

Ascer states that in addition to the impact of the energy price on the cost of the product, “factors such as the escalation of tension between Russia and Ukraine at that time also affected demand negatively, such as cargo problems that could divert customer demand to closer suppliers, and an increase in sea freight prices”. a serious risk to

It is precisely the increase in energy costs that points to the holding of collective bargaining negotiations for the next three years in the tile industry. Ascer employers’ association handed over the proposed contract to the unions, without specifying the salary offer that “could be made and in any case should be appropriate to the current geopolitical context”.