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For Asia’s ceramics industry, producing more is not always the answer. 

Across the region, manufacturers face a difficult combination of weakening export demand, rising operating costs and shifting trade relationships. Established production centres are finding that scale offers little protection when markets contract. Emerging producers, meanwhile, must build competitive industries without becoming overly dependent on imports, energy supplies or a handful of export destinations. 

What matters now is how manufacturers respond when the markets they depend on begin to change. 

This is particularly evident in Iran, the subject of our cover story. Yogender Singh Malik examines a ceramic tile industry with substantial manufacturing capacity and an established export presence, but one contending with economic uncertainty, regional tensions and increasingly difficult trading conditions. For manufacturers, having the capacity to produce is one thing. Remaining competitive under these conditions is quite another. 

Similar pressures are being felt in Morbi, India’s largest ceramic tile manufacturing centre. Yogender explores how weakening demand from key export markets, particularly in the Middle East, has combined with higher energy costs and supply disruptions to put manufacturers under severe strain. Their experience shows how quickly international events can affect even the most established production clusters. 

The picture is different in the UAE, where construction activity, population growth and major property developments continue to support demand for ceramic tiles and sanitaryware. In our Country Profile, Yogender considers the opportunities this expanding market presents, alongside the growing competition facing suppliers looking to gain a foothold or expand their business. 

Further east, Bangladesh’s ceramic tile industry is building on years of investment in domestic production. Jahir Ahmed looks at how manufacturers are modernising their operations and exploring export opportunities, even as energy shortages, rising costs and weaker demand make further expansion difficult. 

Sustainability is another important theme in this edition. Rohan Gunasekera looks at how ceramic manufacturers are reducing energy consumption, emissions and waste through cleaner production methods, from more efficient kilns and heat recovery to recycling and renewable energy. As environmental requirements tighten, these investments are becoming central to competitiveness and access to export markets. 

In our Talking Shop interview, Danilo Frulli, Vice President, Ceramics and Building Products, EMEA, Imerys, discusses the challenges facing the industry, from high energy prices to the need for more sustainable production. He also explains how advances in mineral technology and raw material formulations can help manufacturers improve efficiency, reduce waste and maintain product quality. 

Our Women in Industry series features Moli Li, Director, DPI Cretaprint, who reflects on her career in international business, the changing demands of ceramic digital printing and the importance of good leadership. She also shares her advice for women pursuing careers in ceramics and industrial technology. 

The circumstances facing these markets and manufacturers vary widely. Some are managing the consequences of disruption, others are pursuing growth, while technology suppliers continue to develop the tools and expertise needed to support both. 

What connects them is the need to adapt. Capacity remains important, but the ability to respond to changing markets, control costs, reduce environmental impact and make informed investment decisions may prove even more valuable. 

We hope you enjoy this issue.