Ceramic exports increase in January remains the largest market for the EU

Customs statistics show that in January of this year, China’s ceramics exports amounted to USD 626 million, which was an increase of 26.82% compared with the same period of last year. The year-on-year growth rate was the highest in three months. It is worth noting that the total number of exporting enterprises in January decreased significantly to 4,784, representing a year-on-year decrease of 7.61%.

It is reported that the EU is still the largest market for Chinese ceramic exports. In January, exports to the EU amounted to US$134 million, accounting for 21.45% of the total value of exports, a year-on-year increase of 36.17%. It is worth noting that this year, ceramics exports to the United States began to increase. In January exports to the United States reached US$86 million, a year-on-year increase of 3.85%. According to industry insiders, this indicates that ceramic exports to the United States have begun to increase.

Hou Wenquan, deputy secretary-general of the China Ceramic Industry Association, said that in 2008 China's ceramics industry will continue the trend of 2007 and continue to maintain the momentum of rapid development. However, under the control of the country’s macroeconomic policies, ceramics, as a relatively polluting industry, has become a trend to transfer to the central and western regions, and environmental protection thresholds will become the “life and death symbol” of more and more small and medium-sized enterprises.