Global Porcelain Tile & Slab

Global Porcelain Tile & Slab

Through 2026, global demand for porcelain tile and slab is forecast to increase 5.7% per year to 9.1 billion square meters valued at $133 billion. Market growth will be driven by:

• above average gains in building construction activity in the Asia/Pacific and Africa/Mideast regions, where porcelain tile is commonly used for its aesthetics, cost, and ability to cool building interiors
  
• increases in the average size of houses around the world, including larger kitchens and more bathrooms per dwelling, which boosts demand for flooring, interior wall cladding, and countertops and backsplashes
  
• increasing personal incomes allowing for greater investment over the long term on housing products such as flooring, wall cladding, siding, and countertops
  
• rapidly increasing use of large format porcelain slab in interior building applications throughout the world
  

Porcelain Tile Taking Share from Standard Ceramic in All Major Applications

Demand for porcelain tile is projected to solidly outpace that of standard ceramic tile – porcelain’s primary competitor – in all major markets and applications. Porcelain tile will be increasingly adopted due to its:

• favorable performance properties, such as its durability and slip resistance
  
• ability to mimic the appearance of expensive flooring materials such as natural stone or wood, which standard ceramic tiles are unable to do
  

Thin porcelain tile in particular has become popular due to its ability to be manufactured with large surface areas without significantly increases its weight. These factors make installation faster and easier by making the tile easier to handle and reducing the number of joints that need to be grouted. Consumers also favor reduced number of grout lines compared to smaller tile because it imparts a smoother final look and makes the spaces easier to clean.

Large Format Porcelain Slab Making Rapid Market Inroads Around the World

Large format porcelain slab used for countertops and backsplashes will be the fastest growing decorative tile product in the world, with demand rising at a rate of 25% annually. This robust rate of growth will be fueled by rising consumer awareness of its favorable performance properties, such as:

• stain resistance in both indoor and outdoor settings, as well as being heat and frost resistant, which makes it a top choice for outdoor kitchens
  
• greater strength and durability when compared to granite
  
• absence of discoloration or color change issues
  
• wide variety of finishes, patterns, and colors available from manufacturers
  
• ability to be used as backsplashes
  
• easy-to-clean, hygienic surface
  

This Freedonia industry study analyzes the $91 billion global porcelain tile and slab industry. It presents historical demand data (2011, 2016, and 2021) and forecasts (2026 and 2031) by application (flooring, interior wall cladding, siding (exterior wall cladding), countertops and backsplashes, and other), and market (residential and nonresidential). The study also evaluates company market share and competitive analysis on key industry competitors.