World production and consumption of ceramic tiles

David Stock reports on world production and consumption of ceramic tile during 2009, using statistics generously supplied by Paola Giacomini the editor of Ceramic World Review magazine
PRODUCTION
The most apparent trend in the manufacturing sector is the geographical shift in tile production from the industrys traditional European base to the nascent economies of Asia, North Africa and the Middle East. The ongoing erosion of Europes manufacturing power was further underlined last year by a fall in production of 400 million square metres. This latest downturn was mainly confined to the member states of the European Union who registered a collective decline of 354 million square metres. WORLD MANUFACTURlNG AREAS AREAS EUROPEAN UNION (27) OTHER EUROPE (Turkey included) NORTH AMERICA (Mexico included) CENTRALSOUTH AMERICA ASIA AFRICA OCEANIA TOTAL
2009 (Sq.mt Mill.) % on world production

1,076 395 252 896 5,542 347 7 8,515

12.6 4.6 3.0 10.5 65.1 4.1 0.1 100.0

Twenty-seven EU nations produced 1.076 billion square metres of ceramic tile, a figure that represents a 24.8 per cent drop in total output. The Spanish tile industry continues to shrink at an alarming rate, production has halved in seven years. In 2002, manufacturers in Spain made 651 million square metres of tile, a figure that has dropped to 324 million square metres. As recently as 2006, Spain was ranked second on the list of tile manufacturing nations. It now lies in sixth place with Indonesia and Vietnam progressing quickly. Spanish tile production declined by 34.5 per cent last year, a rate of regression that was very nearly matched by struggling manufacturers in Italy. % var. Until 2008, the state of the Italian industry was 09/08 relatively stagnant. There was no sign of the -24.8 precipitous collapse which would have a detremental -10.4 effect on the industry worldwide, following the global financial crisis. For instance, total Italian production 0.0 was only one million square metres lower in 2006 -0.8 than it had been in 2005. The relative stability of +7.1 that particular period now seems unimaginable after a turbulent twelve months in which the output of +11.9 Italian manufacturers fell by 28.2 per cent. In 2009, -12.5 Italys 181 tile producing companies manufactured -0.1 368 million square metres of product, a far cry

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from the 570 million square metres of five years ago. Spain and Italy currently manufacture a mere eight per cent of the worlds ceramic tile. The third significant slump in the European Union took place in Germany where tile production decreased by 13.6 per cent. Elsewhere, Poland and Portugal experienced identical downturns of 5.1 per cent. Outside the EU, Europes manufacturing woes were limited and less severe. In those countries, tile production

declined by 10.4 per cent, from 441 to 395 million square metres. This was almost entirely attributable to the diminished capabilities of Russian and Turkish manufacturers. Russias lapse in productivity was the more serious of the two, coming after several years of steady and impressive growth. The worlds largest nation made 117 million square metres of tile, an annual total that denotes a drop in production of 20.4 per cent. In contrast, Turkeys manufacturing output of 205 million square

TOP MANUFACTURING COUNTRIES COUNTRY 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. CHINA BRAZIL INDIA ITALY IRAN SPAIN VIETNAM INDONESIA TURKEY EGYPT MEXICO THAILAND RUSSIA POLAND MALAYSIA UAE PORTUGAL ARGENTINA SAUDI ARABIA MOROCCO GERMANY COLOMBIA USA UKRAINE SOUTH KOREA SOUTH AFRICA TAIWAN SYRIA ALGERIA VENEZUELA TOTAL WORLD TOTAL 2005 (Sq.m Mill.) 2,500 568 298 570 190 609 176 175 261 112 196 138 100 108 71 68 72 48 20 44 62 40 61 20 46 33 53 19 28 26 6,713 7,077 2006 (Sq.m Mill.) 3,000 594 340 569 210 608 199 170 265 122 210 139 115 110 75 75 74 54 22 47 64 44 58 21 44 37 53 19 28 28 7,395 7,760 2007 (Sq.m Mill.) 3,200 637 385 559 250 585 254 235 260 140 215 130 135 112 75 76 74 60 34 50 67 48 51 27 42 38 50 19 28 30 7,866 8,252 2008 (Sq.m Mill.) 3,400 713 390 513 320 495 270 275 225 160 205 130 147 118 85 77 74 60 40 51 59 50 45 39 39 38 40 28 28 32 8,145 8,495 2009 (Sq.m Mill.) 3,600 715 490 368 350 324 295 278 205 200 200 128 117 112 90 77 70 56 55 54 51 50 50 44 42 32 32 31 30 30 8,176 8,515 % on 2009 world production 42.3 8.4 5.8 4.3 4.1 3.8 3.5 3.3 2.4 2.3 2.3 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.1 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 96.0 100.0 % var. 09/08 5.9 0.2 25.6 -28.2 9.4 -34.5 9.3 1.2 -8.9 25.0 -2.4 -1.5 -20.4 -5.1 5.9 0.0 -5.1 -6.7 37.5 4.9 -13.6 0.0 10.4 12.8 9.6 -15.8 -20.0 10.7 7.1 -6.3 0.4 -0.1

In 2009, the 30 major manufacturing countries covered 96.0% of world production WORLD CONSUMPTION AREAS AREAS EUROPEAN UNION (27) OTHER EUROPE (Turkey included) NORTH AMERICA (Mexico included) CENTRALSOUTH AMERICA ASIA AFRICA OCEANIA TOTAL
2009 (Sq.mt Mill.) % on world consumption % var. 09/08

WORLD EXPORTING AREAS AREAS EUROPEAN UNION (27) OTHER EUROPE (Turkey included) NORTH AMERICA (Mexico included) CENTRALSOUTH AMERICA ASIA AFRICA OCEANIA TOTAL
2009 (Sq.mt Mill.) % on world consumption % var. 09/08

991 418 360 909 5,273 472 37 8,460

11.7 4.9 4.3 10.7 62.3 5.6 0.4 100.0

-18.8 -11.1 -10.9 +1.0 +8.2 +10.0 -14.0 +1.3

660 96 56 92 797 33 1 1,735

7.8 1.1 0.7 1.1 9.4 0.4 0.0 20.5

-19.3 -25.0 -16.4 -20.7 +5.8 -8.3 -9.6

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metres represented something of an improvement, however Venezuelan production. In Colombia, manufacturers sustained tenuous, on the performance of the previous year. This is due to their level of output, making 50 million square metres of tile. Tile the decline in 2009 (8.9 per cent) being not nearly as severe as production in Brazil finally slowed after three years of unremitting the 13.5 per cent fall endured in 2008. A cause for celebration growth. Nevertheless, the nations manufacturers succeeded in non-EU Europe is the ongoing expansion of Ukraines tile in improving on their 2008 performance, producing 715 million industry. Ceramic tile production in the former Soviet state has square metres of tile, an amount bettered only by China. more than doubled since 2006 with 44 million square metres of The greatest progress was made in Africa, specifically the north of tile manufactured during the course of last year. This progress has the continent, where production increased most notably in Egypt and made Ukraine Europes eighth largest tile producer. Morocco. Egypt has doubled its manufacturing output in the last five In 2009, Asia (including the Middle East) furthered its influence years, reaching 200 million square metres in 2009. The tile industry in the production sector, accounting for 65.1 per cent of all ceramic has almost certainly benefited from a series of economic reforms tile output. Asian manufacturers increased their productivity by that have encouraged the development of a more diversified and more than seven per cent, ultimately making 5.542 billion square liberalised economy. Egyptians produce, consume and export more metres of tile in the calendar year. China once again confirmed its tiles than any other African people. Morocco and Algeria have status as the worlds leading tile producer, with its vast industrial unfailing tile industries that advanced steadily in 2009. Another year base creating 3.6 billion square metres of product. of growth saw Moroccan tile production climb to 54 million square It is astonishing to think that China alone is responsible for nearly metres, whilst Algeria finally surpassed the 28 million square metres two-thirds of Asias tile production and 42.3 per cent of the tile it had produced in the preceding five years. From a local perspective, industrys global output. A discernable pattern is emerging in Oceania produced seven million square metres of tile. Chinas production habits as the quantity of tiles produced in the Peoples Republic has increased by 200 million square metres in CONSUMPTION each of the last three years. Indias manufacturing sector expanded The last two years have seen a remarkable convergence between rapidly, conclusively making amends for the underwhelming tile production and consumption. In 2004, the gap between the progress of 2008. Tile production rose by a quarter, reaching an two was as high as 370 million square metres. By 2009, this figure all-time high of 490 million square metres. As the worlds third had fallen to only 55 million square metres, with manufacturers largest manufacturer and consumer of ceramic tile, India has a and suppliers mindful of adding to existing warehouse stocks. telling effect on the industrys performance, As production slumped by the smallest of despite the fact that few of its products are INTERNATIONAL TRADE 2009 margins, worldwide consumption rose by exported or used overseas. (on Total World Consumption) 1.3 per cent to an all-time high of 8.46 Manufacturing growth was also recorded billion square metres. in Iran and Vietnam, two of Asias most The geographical breakdown of production reliable and promising tile producers. Iran and consumption highlights several recurrent Import Export has doubled its tile production in the past themes, such as the growing dominance of 20.5% five years, during which time Vietnam Asia, the increasing significance of Central has developed at an even quicker rate. In and South America, and the inexorable Domestic Sales 79.5% 2009, the countries sustained similar rates decline of Europe, chiefly those nations in of growth; 9.3 per cent in Vietnam and 9.4 the European Union, where consumption per cent in Iran. Although these statistics fell by 18.8 per cent. Tile consumption in the are undeniably impressive, they pale in EU amounted to 991 million square metres, comparison to the recent expansion of the with every sizeable market reporting a manufacturing sector in Saudi Arabia. Tile production in the oildownturn in sales. Europes three representatives in the top ten of rich state totalled 55 million square metres last year, following a the 2008 consumption list were ousted unceremoniously by nations remarkable 37.5 per cent upsurge in annual productivity. in Africa, North America and the Middle East. Elsewhere in the Middle East, production stalled in the United The biggest slump was recorded in Spain where tile sales dropped Arab Emirates at 77 million square metres, whilst an emergent by 34.9 per cent. In 2007, the Spanish public purchased 314 million Syrian industry grew for a second year in succession. There were square metre of tile, a quantity which has since halved. Italian minor variations in Asia-Pacific nations such as Indonesia and consumption has abated as well, but to a far lesser degree, falling Thailand, and a 5.9 per cent increase in Malaysian output. South by 16.8 per cent to 146 million square metres. The popularity of Korea reported an upturn in production for the first time in years, tile has diminished in Britain, where a previously settled consumer but the same cannot be said of the Taiwanese industry which once market has shrunk by a third in only two years. Further losses were again declined. reported in France and Germany with consumption dwindling in Production in North America remained the same (252 those larger markets by 11.5 and 4.8 per cent. Germans used less million square metres) despite a 10.4 per cent increase in U.S. ceramic tile for the fifth consecutive year 106 million square manufacturing. The renewal of Americas production sector was to metres while sales in France declined after a recovery had taken some extent futile, as any improvements in the United States were in 2007 and 2008. quickly cancelled out in neighbouring Mexico. Mexican output fell Polish tile consumption dropped below 100 million square by 2.4 per cent, or five million square metres, thus nullifying the metres for the first time since the nation joined the European greater efforts and improved productivity of their counterparts in Union in May 2004. The downturn in sales in non-EU Europe, America. In total, Mexico created 200 million square metres of which measured 11.1 per cent, was largely confined to Russia and tile, while U.S. manufacturers saw their output rise from 45 to 50 Ukraine. Russian buyers purchased 139 million square metres as million square metres. sales decreased by 27.3 per cent. Ukrainian consumption fell by Tile manufacturing in Central and South America is principally 18.8 per cent, bringing to an end a three year period of massive based in Argentina, Colombia, and most importantly of all, Brazil. market expansion. Turkish sales rebounded impressively after two The region produced 896 million square metres in 2009, falling years of decline. just short of the regional record set the year before. This minor Unsurprisingly, the continent that produces the most ceramic setback occurred because of similar downturns in Argentine and tile is also the industrys leading consumer market. In total, the

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nations of Asia consumed 5.273 billion square metres of tile, a truly staggering amount that equates to 62.3 per cent of the worlds ceramic tile purchases. The continent almost monopolises the top consumers list, claiming five of the highest six positions. China inevitably sits atop the rankings having used 3.03 billion square metres of product last year. The nation increased its tile consumption by 7.1 per cent and currently accounts for more than a third of global tile sales. Demand for ceramic tile soared in India where local buyers purchased 494 million square metres of product. Malaysia enjoyed the greatest market growth as local tile consumption jumped by 38 per cent. Tile consumption in the Middle East was centred in Iran and Saudi Arabia, rising by over 11 per cent in the former and 22.1 per cent in the latter. In the United Arab Emirates, tile sales plummeted by 19.8 per cent, eventually stalling at 77 million square metres. Indonesia climbed to fourth spot on the

consumption table after three years of rampant expansion. The Vietnamese market improved as well with sales totalling 240 million square metres. Other changes in consumption were less remarkable, such as the negligible improvement in South Korea and the slight regression in Thailand. The burgeoning Filipino market also continues to grow. In North America, the decline in tile consumption continued at a marginally slower rate as sales figures dropped by 10.9 per cent. Tile buyers in the United States purchased 169 million square metres of product, six million square metres more than consumers in Mexico. The slump in America was more precipitous, measuring 14.2 per cent as opposed to the 7.2 per cent downturn in Mexican consumption. Including Canada, the region used 360 million square metres of tile. Tile consumption in Central and South America rose by 1 per cent which was mainly due to the rapid expansion of the Brazilian

TOP CONSUMPTION COUNTRIES COUNTRY 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. CHINA BRAZIL INDIA INDONESIA IRAN VIETNAM EGYPT USA SAUDI ARABIA MEXICO SPAIN ITALY RUSSIA TURKEY THAILAND FRANCE GERMANY SOUTH KOREA POLAND UAE MALAYSIA MOROCCO ARGENTINA COLOMBIA GREAT BRITAIN PORTUGAL UKRAINE SOUTH AFRICA ALGERIA PHILIPPINES TOTAL WORLD TOTAL 2005 (Sq.m Mill.) 2,050 443 303 155 153 120 93 303 90 161 303 192 131 169 120 130 132 94 101 70 52 49 44 44 72 51 29 44 33 30 5,762 6,750 2006 (Sq.m Mill.) 2,450 484 350 148 182 145 103 308 100 164 319 199 151 179 121 120 128 99 102 80 45 52 48 48 75 47 33 48 34 33 6,456 7,420 2007 (Sq.m Mill.) 2,700 535 397 178 236 210 105 249 110 173 314 199 176 161 120 129 124 110 100 81 53 56 55 53 75 48 47 50 35 37 6,914 8,060 2008 (Sq.m Mill.) 2,830 605 403 262 265 220 140 197 136 176 240 176 191 129 120 128 112 99 103 96 50 60 59 54 66 50 59 50 37 38 7,150 8,350 2009 (Sq.m Mill.) 3,030 645 494 297 295 240 180 169 166 163 156 146 139 138 117 113 106 99 93 77 69 66 55 53 50 48 48 43 40 40 7,374 8,460 % on 2009 world consumption 35.8 7.6 5.8 3.5 3.5 2.8 2.1 2.0 2.0 1.9 1.8 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.1 0.9 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.5 87.2 100.0 % var. 09/08 7.1 6.5 22.6 13.4 11.3 9.1 28.6 -14.2 22.1 -7.2 -34.9 -16.8 -27.3 6.5 -2.5 -11.5 -4.8 0.5 -10.1 -19.8 38.0 9.2 -6.8 -1.9 -23.7 -2.8 -18.6 -14.0 8.1 5.3 3.1 1.3

In 2009, the 30 major consuming countries covered 87.2% of world consumption

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market. In 2009, the people of Brazil consumed 645 million square metres or 7.6 per cent of the worlds ceramic tile. This outstanding performance was tempered by disappointing sales in the Argentine and Colombian markets. Both countries returned to 2007 levels of consumption with sales in Argentina falling from 59 to 55 million square metres. Consumer demand in Colombia dropped from 54 to 53 million square metres. Use of tile in Africa is concentrated in four countries; Egypt, Morocco, South Africa and Algeria. Egypt, alone, is responsible for 38 per cent of Africas tile consumption with 180 million square metres of product purchased there in 2009. Moroccans consumed 66 million square metres of tile as sales increased by 9.2 per cent. In South Africa, consumer demand fell by 14 per cent as sales of ceramic tile dipped below their 2005 level. Conversely, the Algerian market continued to grow with tile sales rising to 40 million square metres. In Oceania, consumption fell by 14 per cent, totalling 37 million square metres.

which suggests most nations are becoming increasingly self-reliant in COUNTRY producing and consuming their own 1 FRANCE 56.9 49.7 ceramic tile. This is evidenced by the fact that four-fifths of the worlds 2 GERMANY 41.3 39.6 ceramic tile is now consumed in its 3 USA 40.8 27.3 country of origin. Exports declined in 4 GREECE 18.7 12.5 every region, except Asia, with the 5 AUSTRIA 10.4 9.9 biggest downturns recorded in non-EU 6 BELGIUM+LUX 10.4 9.2 Europe and Central and South America. 7 CANADA 8.5 7.4 Of the 27 EU member states, Italy 8 SWITZERLAND 7.8 7.4 and Spain were the worst affected with their exports tumbling by 23 and 9 UK 8.7 6.5 20.9 per cent, respectively. In spite 10 NETHERLANDS 6.5 5.4 of these difficulties, the two nations 11 CROATIA 6.3 5.1 remain second and third on the list of 12 SAUDI ARABIA 6.8 4.9 exporters; Italy exported 281 million 13 ROMANIA 5.8 4.5 square metres of tile, whilst 235 14 SWEDEN 5.1 4.4 million square metres left the shores 15 HUNGARY 6.0 4.3 of Spain. German exports fell after 16 POLAND 5.5 3.7 three years of growth (from 28 to 23 million square metres) and Portugal 17 RUSSIA 6.3 3.5 suffered an uncustomary setback 18 SLOVENIA 4.1 3.2 after a lengthy period of stability. 19 DENMARK 4.5 3.1 The continued expansion of Polands 20 ISRAEL 2.9 3.1 export sector is the EUs biggest 21 CZECH REP. 3.5 3.0 triumph as demand for Polish tiles 22 FINLAND 3.5 2.7 increased for the fifth consecutive 23 SPAIN 4.7 2.6 year, reaching 35 million square 24 BULGARIA NA 2.0 metres. Exports from the European Union totalled 660 million square 25 AUSTRALIA 3.0 2.0 EXPORTS metres, an amount surpassed only Source: Confindustria Ceramica In 2009, the hardest hit area of the by Asia. The hardships endured in the ceramic tile industry was the imports export sector were most apparent in and exports sector. In stark contrast to the years production and non-EU Europe, particularly Turkey, where exports slumped by 26.8 consumption statistics, which altered only marginally, there was per cent. a considerable drop in the quantity of tile that was made in one Central and South America saw their combined exports decrease country and purchased in another. As each year passes, imports/ by 20.7 per cent, a significant relapse that amplified difficulties exports are falling as a percentage of global consumption, a trend from the previous year. In keeping with regional statistics regarding 2008 2009 (Sq.m Mill.) (Sq.m Mill.) TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES COUNTRY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 CHINA ITALY SPAIN TURKEY BRAZIL MEXICO IRAN THAILAND POLAND PORTUGAL UAE VIETNAM EGYPT MALAYSIA GERMANY TOTAL WORLD TOTAL 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 (Sq.m Mill.) (Sq.m Mill.) (Sq.m Mill.) (Sq.m Mill.) (Sq.m Mill.) 342 390 341 97 114 46 14 25 19 34 25 12 16 18 21 1,514 1,715 450 396 336 93 115 55 19 27 21 36 32 15 17 22 24 1,657 1,865 500 379 333 104 102 56 17 25 30 37 38 25 22 18 26 1,712 1,910 570 355 306 92 81 62 27 25 34 37 34 25 23 23 28 1,722 1,919 584 281 235 67 61 51 40 36 35 32 31 28 23 23 23 1,550 1,735 % on 2009 world consumption 6.9 3.3 2.8 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 18.3 20.5 % on 2009 world exports 33.7 16.2 13.6 3.9 3.5 2.9 2.3 2.1 2.0 1.9 1.8 1.6 1.3 1.3 1.3 89.4 100.0 % var 09/08 2.5 -20.9 -23.0 -26.8 -25.4 -18.3 48.9 44.0 3.2 -12.1 -8.8 12.0 0.0 0.0 -17.1 -9.9 -9.6

ITALY: TOP EXPORT MARKETS

In 2009 the 15 major exporting countries represented 89.9% of total exports and 18.3% of total world consumption.

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production and consumption, the Brazilian industry, which accounts for two-thirds of Central and South American exports, has the greatest influence. Unfortunately, exports from Brazil declined for the third year in a row from 81 to 61 million square metres. The only nation in North America to export a sizeable quantity of tile is Mexico. After four remarkable years, in which the countrys exports nearly doubled, overseas interest in Mexican tile dropped by 18.3 per cent. This unwelcome regression was made all the more damaging by the negligible presence of U.S. exports, which failed to exceed five million square metres. Tile exports from Asia rose by 5.8 per cent to a record 797 million square metres. Chinas export growth slowed considerably but the nation still managed to ship 73.7 per cent (584 million square metres) of the continents annual exports. The absence of any substantial growth in China was counterbalanced by a dramatic escalation in Iranian and Thai exports. International sales of Iranian tiles have risen fourfold in the last five years with exports increasing to 40 million square metres after an upsurge of 48.9 per cent in 2009. Thailand exported more than a quarter of the tiles it manufactured (36 of 128 million square metres) as foreign demand for the countrys products soared by 44 per cent. Malaysia exported the same amount of tiles as in 2008 whilst Vietnam increased it overseas share by a further 12 per cent. The regions worst performer was the United Arab Emirates where exports slumped for the second year running. Egypt, Africas major tile exporter, replicated its performance from the previous year but was unable to prevent a continent-wide downturn of 8.3 per cent. Elsewhere, Oceania exported only one million square metres of tile.

Imports
Despite a significant decline in consumption, the United States remains the worlds biggest ceramic tile importer. In 2009, the country consumed 124 million square metres of foreign made

product, which mostly arrived from China, Mexico and Italy. Although this figure appears impressive in isolation, it unfortunately points to a severe contraction of the U.S. import market which began in 2007. Americas northern neighbour, Canada, imported 27 million square metres of tile last year. In certain parts of Europe, imported tile sales declined rapidly. Huge downturns were recorded in Romania and Greece where imports plummeted by 33 and 36.4 per cent. The worst affected market was Russia where imports decreased by 44.8 per cent. Other nations that acquired much smaller quantities of tile from overseas were Italy, France and Great Britain, where imports have slumped by 36 per cent since 2007. Germany has steadily reduced its imports over a number of years, from 106 million square metres in 2004 to just 78 million square metres last year. In Belgium and Luxembourg, consumer demand for foreign made tiles differed only slightly, falling from 26 to 25 million square metres. Tile imports in the Middle East varied greatly from one nation to the next. Rising sales in Iraq and Saudi Arabia were countered by diminishing returns in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Israeli imports were unchanged from 2008, totalling 30 million square metres. Asias second most receptive market shrank by 15.4 per cent as sales to South Korea slumped to 55 million square metres. Promising growth was observed in the Filipino and Thai markets with the countries importing a combined total of 49 million square metres. Nigeria purchases more tiles from overseas than any other African nation. In 2009, imports to the West African country totalled 29 million square metres. Australia remains the most lucrative market in Oceania despite a 15.9 per cent drop in imports last year. The people of Australia consumed 28 million square metres of imported tile, the majority of which was manufactured in China.

TOP IMPORTING COUNTRIES COUNTRY 2005 (Sq.m Mill.) 245 80 110 90 51 35 64 2 29 35 42 19 22 32 32 22 27 9 19 22 985 1,715 2006 (Sq.m Mill.) 254 89 110 87 54 51 66 3 26 42 43 27 20 31 33 23 28 15 18 28 1,043 1,855 2007 (Sq.m Mill.) 202 77 110 83 66 43 67 10 30 47 51 22 22 34 35 28 33 15 16 31 1,020 1,910 2008 (Sq.m Mill.) 157 99 112 80 59 55 58 23 30 54 44 30 25 33 30 26 35 16 23 25 1,012 1,919 2009 (Sq.m Mill.) 124 116 101 78 55 45 43 40 30 30 30 29 28 28 27 25 22 21 19 19 910 1,735 % on 2009 national consumption 73.3 69.9 89.0 73.4 55.1 58.4 86.0 100.0 90.9 21.5 79.7 100.0 23.9 79.7 97.8 97.3 62.9 52.5 96.5 13.0 60.5 20.5 %o n 2009 world imports 7.1 6.7 5.8 4.5 3.2 2.6 2.5 2.3 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.3 1.2 1.1 1.1 52.4 100.0 % var. 09/08 -20.9 17.2 -10.2 -2.5 -7.8 -17.4 -25.9 76.0 0.0 -44.8 -33.0 -3.3 12.0 -15.9 -10.0 -3.1 -36.4 35.5 -16.1 -23.4 -9.5 -9.6

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

USA SAUDI ARABIA FRANCE GERMANY SOUTH KOREA UAE GREAT BRITAIN IRAQ ISRAEL RUSSIA GREECE NIGERIA THAILAND AUSTRALIA CANADA BELGIUM + LUX. ROMANIA PHILIPPINES KUWAIT ITALY TOTAL WORLD TOTAL

In 2009 Imports of the 20 major importing countries represented 52.4% of total imports and 10.8% of total world consumption.

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