China’s ceramic industry saw a quick recovery from previous downturn in 2013. Despite of the challenges such as transformation and upgrading, similarity of products and fiercer market competition facing each company, the industry as a whole managed a stable and fruitful achievement. 

To present a comprehensive picture of ceramic products of 2013 in China, we carefully chose five categories of products, namely polished tiles, rustic tiles, polished glazed tiles, micro-crystal stone tiles and marble tiles, to analyze their advantages and disadvantages and their developing trend.

polished tiles

In 2013, polished tiles remained to be the focus of products development of many companies, who continued to double its R&D efforts.

Except for high-end market highlighting individualism and rural areas dominated by adobe houses, polished tiles have had a strong foothold in market widely applied in most residential, public and business areas. It is the prefered choice for most distributers and for domestic decoration.

As the dominant product in China’s ceramic industry, polished tiles have many classic products which maintain to be best-selling and well recognized among consumers. With the constant advancement of technology and equipment, polished tiles in the future would be more vivid and delicate in texture and patterns, and natural, durable and healthy in use.

As polished tiles are inferior to some new products brought along by technology advancement in terms of texture and patters, their edge rests on price advantage.

rustic tiles

Rustic tiles have step up its momentum in recent years with unique design and effect. Its cultural charm and overwhelming momentum has pushed lured more and more companies into the production of it.

The ceramic ink-jet printer, widely applied in China, has overreached from ceramic chips, polished glazed tiles to rustic tiles, endowing the products with the natural beauty. 

Production areas enjoy a bolstering growth of rustic tiles. According to statistics, a total of 20 companies are involved in the production of rustic tiles up to now and more are ready to join them.

As the generation born in 1980s and 1990s with different consumption preference are becoming the leading consumer group, the market for individualized products are growing, and to feed this market, rustic tiles in future will feature fashion and even internationalism as its target group may be the new generation of elite class. With the rapid development of technique and technology, rustic tiles have gradually become tailored and high-end.

polished glazed tile

The production lines for polished tiles are constantly growing in very production area in China since 2013. More than 100 lines for polished glazed tiles in Guangdong and Zibo are in operation and the number is still rising. By the end of this year, the number has reached over 200 lines in Guangdong; the increase happens also in Jinjiang, Jiajiang, Gao’an and other areas. 

Fu Zhonghai, general manager of Jingyu Ceramics of Foshan revealed that the sale of polished glazed products has accounting for 30% of the company’s total revenue, and even short of supply once. Other ceramic companies have all made a coveted profits from polished glazed tiles, which fully reflects the popularity of polished glazed tiles among consumers.

Combining the merits of polished tiles and rustic tiles, the polished glazed tiles meet the demand for high brightness. From decorative perspective, the pattern is more clear and vivid with ink-jet printing technology. However, its wear resistance can only meet the requirement of domestic decoration, not strong enough for hotels, clubs and other public areas. 

micro lite

Since its emergency in 2000, micro-crystal stone tiles has always been considered high-end products. However, there are no more than 100 production lines for micro-crystal stone tiles nationwide, some of which are suspended for various reasons, resulting less than 5% of output among all ceramic products. 

According to experts, as holes, pinholes, distortion and other decorative defects easily occur during frit firing, micro-crystal stone tiles might distort or peel off especially in application, so are those from companies with fine materials and techniques. Therefore, strict quality control and improving production process are the best option to strenthen the product in the future.

marble tiles

The marble tile was born to replace natural stones and with maturing technology and market, it enjoys a more and more promissing future.

The value of marble tiles relies in its wide application on wall and floor,and boast prominent decoration effects. Meanwhile, its vivid texture extremely close to natural stones, competitive price, environmental-friendly and harmless advantage are all the factors attracting consumers.

It can not only achieve the same decorative effect with natural stones to express pursuit of extravagant life style, but also affordable for emerging consuming groups born in 1980s and 1990s. These determine its leading role in building materials for decoration marekt.

Reporter Qin Yexiao

This is the 4th issue.