McMullin Harrington Limited

With the TTA awards dinner taking place on Saturday it seemed a good time to review the industry statistics for last year to see whether the picture was as gloomy as some made out.
The usual word of warning that it is not possible to get hold of the production figures for the UK and the import/export statistics include paving stones as well as glazed and unglazed ceramic tiles, but for all that they still give a good indication of the direction of the market.  All figures are based on £ sterling values not volume.
Overall imports were down by 13% on 2009 with exports down 10%.  Since 2007 imports have shrunk by nearly 28%.  The Spanish share of this was down by 5% year on year at 31% rather than the 36% of the 2010 total, leaving them as the biggest importer.  The Italians were next with 26% down from 28%.  China and Turkey both grew their share slightly to 11% a piece. 
The biggest export block was the original 15 EU states with the Republic of Ireland taking up the lead and France coming second, due no doubt to H&R Johnson’s relationship with the DIY chains over there, but exports to these countries were still down by 47% year on year and a whopping 80% since 2007, undoubtedly caused by the problems in Ireland.
As far as UK production is concerned the disappearance of Pilkington’s as one of the 3 big producers meant a drop in the figures but at the same time British Ceramic Tile was ramping up its new factory and the strong euro was helping the UK producers in the country if not outside, so some of that drop will have been absorbed.  Overall however you have to assume that production shrank.
Overall then the picture was not particularly rosy, and the jury is still out on the effects of the government cuts and the latest budget, but there is some good news – Topps Tiles just put out an interim statement for their half yearly results saying that they are approximately 1.8% for like on like sales.
Let’s hope that 2011 turns out to be better than the gloom mongers are predicting.
If you are interested in seeing the full breakdown of statistics, you can click here.