Global Non-Refractory Ceramic Building Bricks Market 2019 - Key Insights

IndexBox has just published a new report, the World - Clay Building Bricks - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights. Here is a summary of the report's key findings.

The global non-refractory ceramic building bricks market revenue amounted to $45.6B in 2017, jumping by 3.1% against the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers' margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). Overall, non-refractory ceramic building bricks consumption continues to indicate an abrupt slump. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2008, when it surged by 3.4% y-o-y. In that year, the global non-refractory ceramic building bricks market reached its peak level of $76B. From 2009 to 2017, the growth of the global non-refractory ceramic building bricks market failed to regain its momentum.

Production 2007-2017

Global non-refractory ceramic building bricks production amounted to 168B units in 2017, remaining stable against the previous year.

Exports 2007-2017

In 2017, the amount of non-refractory ceramic building bricks exported worldwide stood at 2.2B units, remaining constant against the previous year. In general, non-refractory ceramic building bricks exports continue to indicate a perceptible shrinkage.

In value terms, non-refractory ceramic building bricks exports stood at $582M (IndexBox estimates) in 2017.

Exports by Country

Belgium (355M units) and Germany (313M units) were the main exporters of non-refractory ceramic building bricks in 2017, reaching approx. 16% and 14% of total exports, respectively. It was distantly followed by Denmark (190M units), comprising 8.7% share of total exports. The U.S. (93M units), Mexico (90M units), the Czech Republic (81M units), China (76M units), Belarus (72M units), Albania (70M units), Kuwait (70M units), Serbia (63M units) and Croatia (52M units) took the little share of total exports.

From 2007 to 2017, the most notable rate of growth in terms of exports, amongst the main exporting countries, was attained by Kuwait (+134.8% per year), while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, Belgium ($137M), Germany ($84M) and Denmark ($58M) appeared to be the countries with the highest levels of exports in 2017, together comprising 48% of global exports. These countries were followed by China, the U.S., Mexico, Kuwait, the Czech Republic, Belarus, Serbia, Croatia and Albania, which together accounted for a further 26%.

Export Prices by Country

In 2017, the average non-refractory ceramic building bricks export price amounted to $265 per thousand units, growing by 15% against the previous year. Over the last decade, it increased at an average annual rate of +1.0%. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2017, an increase of 15% against the previous year. Global export price peaked at $277 per thousand units in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2017, export prices stood at a somewhat lower figure.

There were significant differences in the average export prices amongst the major exporting countries. In 2017, the country with the highest export price was China ($387 per thousand units), while Albania ($79 per thousand units) was amongst the lowest.

From 2007 to 2017, the most notable rate of growth in terms of export prices was attained by China, while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Imports 2007-2017

In 2017, the amount of non-refractory ceramic building bricks imported worldwide amounted to 2B units, approximately equating the previous year.

In value terms, non-refractory ceramic building bricks imports stood at $567M (IndexBox estimates) in 2017.

Imports by Country

In 2017, the UK (342M units), distantly followed by Germany (126M units), the U.S. (111M units) and the Netherlands (100M units) were the largest importers of non-refractory ceramic building bricks, together achieving 34% of total imports. Poland (80M units), Russia (76M units), Canada (70M units), the Czech Republic (70M units), Kazakhstan (65M units), New Zealand (64M units), Belgium (59M units) and France (54M units) held the minor share of total imports.

The UK was also the fastest growing in terms of the non-refractory ceramic building bricks imports, with a CAGR of +10.7% from 2007 to 2017. At the same time, New Zealand (+7.1%), the U.S. (+5.9%), Canada (+5.0%) and Germany (+2.3%) displayed positive paces of growth. Russia and the Netherlands experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. By contrast, France (-2.9%), Belgium (-6.8%), Kazakhstan (-11.0%), the Czech Republic (-11.9%) and Poland (-13.4%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. From 2007 to 2017, the share of Poland, the Czech Republic, Kazakhstan and Belgium increased by 13%, 8.7%, 7.1% and 3% percentage points, while New Zealand (-1.6%), the U.S. (-2.4%) and the UK (-10.8%) saw their share reduced. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, the UK ($109M) constitutes the largest market for imported non-refractory ceramic building bricks worldwide, comprising 19% of global imports. The second position in the ranking was occupied by Germany ($46M), with a 8.1% share of global imports. It was followed by the U.S., with a 6.6% share.

Import Prices by Country

In 2017, the average non-refractory ceramic building bricks import price amounted to $281 per thousand units, increasing by 5.4% against the previous year. Over the last decade, it increased at an average annual rate of +1.0%.

Import prices varied noticeably by the country of destination; the country with the highest import price was Belgium ($514 per thousand units), while the Czech Republic ($153 per thousand units) was amongst the lowest.

From 2007 to 2017, the most notable rate of growth in terms of import prices was attained by Belgium, while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox AI Platform