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Summary
The global market for terra cotta bricks has observed a nuanced trajectory with the French market showcasing a stable pattern, despite a slight structural decline. Demand for clay bricks, particularly in France, has remained solid, especially in new housing constructions and renovations. This is reflected in the prominence of clay bricks comprising 35% of the new-build market.
Key European markets, driven by Germany, France, the UK, Italy, and Belgium, saw significant growth with a 35% sales. Export and import volumes in France have been relatively low, with exports of clay bricks negligible compared to production, yet the French trade balance has a surplus due to the predominance of roof tile exports. The French construction sector has evolved towards greater environmental consciousness, aligning with the upcoming RT 2020 regulations advocating for positive energy buildings, setting the clay brick industry on a trajectory towards a low-carbon industry, reducing energy consumption by 17% and CO2 emissions by 37% .
Despite a setback during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 with fluctuations in demand and activity, the renovation market is experiencing a boom expected to last until at least 2023, with unprecedented demand leading to craftsmen's order books filled for several months. This is in part fueled by 100 billion euros of forced household savings generated during the health crisis. The French clay brick market is characterized by a declining number of players yet remains dominated by large manufacturers such as Edilians and Terreal. The market's supply side has responded to demand by optimizing production locations and advancing technology to improve the thermal and ecological performance of bricks.
Trends in the French Terra Cotta Brick Market: Demand Dynamics
The French market for terra cotta bricks, made primarily from natural clay and sand, has demonstrated a certain resilience in recent years. With a long history rooted in both tradition and innovation, the sector has become an essential component of the construction industry in France. The demand for clay bricks, a material renowned for its authenticity and environmental friendliness, remains solid in the midst of evolving housing needs and eco-conscious trends. In recent years, France has seen a steady rise in the use of clay bricks for residential construction. Since 2014, it has become the most preferred material, particularly in the multi-family housing segment where its market share has quadrupled. However, post-2014 dynamics indicate a slight dip, with the terracotta sector experiencing a 9% decline.
Notwithstanding, the clay brick remains a staple in the industry, holding its ground in a market with minor sales fluctuations. The appeal of clay bricks is multifaceted. On an individual level, consumers seek simplicity, transparency, and eco-friendly construction options. This demand for sustainable building materials is also reinforced by societal shifts and government initiatives such as the €7.5 billion stimulus plan announced in 2020 for building renovation. The French single-family home construction market has showcased robust growth, with sales surging by about 30%. This growth rate has positively impacted the construction of clay brick homes, which now represents nearly half of all new single-family housing starts. Regionally, housing construction activities are focussed on the South-West and North-East of France, the areas with traditionally strong affinity for terra cotta constructions. Here, the market demand for new housing corresponds to the increasing interest in clay bricks.
The European landscape for clay bricks and building materials has also seen substantial momentum, with a 35% increase in sales. France, along with Germany, the UK, Italy, and Belgium, are at the forefront of this growth, contributing to nearly 70% of total continental sales. On the production front, the French market players have adapted their offerings to cater to an eco-conscious customer base, emphasizing thermal efficiency and sustainable manufacturing techniques. The production process is optimized to minimize environmental impact, reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions significantly over the past few decades. This conscious shift towards a low-carbon industry stands as a testament to the industry's.
Key Players Shaping the Terra Cotta Brick Market Landscape
The terra cotta brick industry is characterized by the presence of influential companies that have anchored their positions through consistent innovation, a diverse product range, and strategic expansions. This unique market sees a symbiosis of traditional craftsmanship and modern industrial processes, with a handful of players dominating the majority of the sales. The following are the key players that have left an indelible mark on the French clay brick and tile market:
- Edilians – Originally hailing from the United States, Edilians stands out as a significant contributor to the French market. This company combines the rich heritage of terra cotta brick-making with advanced production techniques, delivering a wide array of brick solutions that cater to contemporary construction and design needs. Their influence extends beyond profitability, immersing into the architectural fabric of French developments.
- Terreal – A homegrown French titan, Terreal rides on the waves of local tradition while embracing global standards of manufacturing. The company's roots are deeply embedded in the French construction culture, offering terra cotta products that blend effortlessly with the aesthetic and functional demands of both the historic and modern edifice. With its recent acquisition of the German competitor Creaton, Terreal's reach and impact on the European market is further solidified.
- Wienerberger – As an Austrian powerhouse with a global presence, Wienerberger brings to the table a vast collection of clay building materials, including their prestigious terra cotta bricks. Their commitment to sustainability and efficiency is mirrored in the quality and performance of their products, meeting stringent European standards and customer expectations alike.
- BMI Group – Another American enterprise that has infiltrated the French marketplace, the BMI Group operates with a robust portfolio that encompasses not just quality brick and tile solutions but also imbues innovation in its very core. Their offerings reflect a strong dedication to energy efficiency and ecological responsibility, in line with the core trends of the industry.
- Bouyer-Leroux – This French company may operate on a somewhat smaller scale than its American and Austrian counterparts, but it secures its place in the market through localized expertise and a focus on sustainability. Bouyer-Leroux is recognized for its eco-friendly production measures and superior brick quality, lending a unique touch to French architecture.
The market dynamics characterized by these players are far-reaching, not only in the domain of sales figures but in influencing construction practices, sustainability trends, and cultural preferences in building materials. Together, these companies contribute to a competitive and resilient industry.
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- Number of pages : 30 pages
- Format : Digital and PDF versions
- Last update : 01/07/2021
Summary and extracts
1 Market overview
1.1 Definition and scope of study
Terra cotta brick is a natural brick, the result of ancient design processes. Terra cotta brick is generally made from clay and sand. The color of the clay gives the brick its hue, which is often red or yellow.
Clay bricks are handmade bricks, fired in a kiln at 1200°C. This makes them a much more authentic building material than breeze-block.
Worldwide brick production amounts to 1,500 billion units a year. Asia is the world's leading brick producer, accounting for 87% of the total. China alone accounts for 67% of global supply. [HZZK] In France, clay bricks play a major role in construction. Indeed, since 2014, it has been the most widely used material in residential construction. In multi-family housing, for example, clay bricks quadrupled their market share (between 2005 and 2014). Since then, however, the dynamic has been less positive, with the terracotta sector as a whole suffering a 9% decline between 2010 and 2019.
Brick manufacturers shape their products from the raw material clay. Finished products are then sent to specialized building distributors such as Leroy Merlin or Gedimat. Craftsmen then buy from these distributors. The main manufacturers on the French clay brick market are American Edilians and French Terreal.
Building with clay bricks is perfectly in line with current trends. Indeed, this material meets individual and societal demands for greater simplicity, transparency and clean, environmentally-friendly materials. The advantages of clay bricks should give them an important role in the €7.5 billion stimulus plan for building and renovation announced for 2020.
1.2 A fast-growing European market, driven by 5 countries
By exploiting NAF code **.**Z, which represents "Manufacture of clay bricks, tiles and construction products", it is clear that the clay construction market in Europe has grown enormously between **** and ****, with sales increasing by **% over these years, as shown in the graph below.
Sales trends in the manufacture of clay bricks, ...
1.3 A stable French market in recent years
Sales trends in the manufacture of clay bricks, tiles and building materials France, ****-**** Source: ****
As the graph above illustrates, there has been a slight structural decline in sales of clay bricks on the French market. However, this is hardly significant given the strong stability of sales since ****.
1.4 Low export and import volumes in relation to French production
First of all, the weight of bricks forces France to trade mostly with neighboring countries, and then only in very small quantities. As the Fédération Française des Tuiles et des Briques (***) points out, the volumes of clay bricks exported are negligible compared to the volumes delivered within the ...
1.5 The impact of the Covid-19 crisis on the clay brick market
The situation that emerged in **** with the Covid-** crisis led to a decline in demand for almost a year, due to a drop in household purchasing power and the inability of the French to travel.
Change in domestic and export sales index for bricks, roof tiles and clay building products France, ...
2 Demand analysis
2.1 Demand remains solid
From **** to ****, the FFTB claims that clay brick has grown from **% to **% of the new-build market, all housing types combined. Demand has thus stimulated this market until today, when almost half of all new single-family housing starts are in clay brick.
Size of the French single-family home construction market France, ****-****, ...
2.2 New housing construction and renovation drive demand for clay bricks
every year, nearly ***,*** new homes are built in France, or around ** every hour.
Housing starts by regionFrance, ****, in % year-on-year
Source: ****
This map shows the geographical distribution of housing starts, which are particularly concentrated in the South-West and North-East, which means that these are also the regions where clay bricks are increasingly ...
2.3 Production where the demand is
Because of the difficulty of transporting large quantities of bricks, production sites are set up in the most convenient locations to minimize transport distances and delivery times. Indeed, transport costs can account for up to **% of total production costs. This is why the sites are located in regions where many terracotta ...
3 Market structure
3.1 A market in which the number of players is declining slightly but steadily
Growth in the number of companies in the clay brick and tile manufacturing market France, ****-**** Source: ****
Since ****, the number of companies operating in this sector has fallen by almost **%. For the most part, the companies that have disappeared from this market were small or very small businesses, faced with economic ...
3.2 Typology of French market players
First of all, the players are fairly evenly distributed, with companies of very different sizes. This means that there is a wide range of products and services on offer, even if some of the major players, which we will describe in greater detail later, monopolize a large part, if not almost ...
3.3 Key players in market sales
Among the companies present on the French market, according to figures from the Conseil National des greffiers des Tribunaux de Commerce, the * with the highest sales in France alone accounted for **.*% of French sales for clay bricks and tiles in ****. They share these sales as follows:
Main players in the clay ...
3.4 Clay brick production structure
According to the Belgian think tank CEPS, clay brick production costs are determined by energy and transport costs, with transport sometimes accounting for up to **% of production costs. For this reason, production sites are often located close to extraction sites.
There are * distinct stages in the production process:
Raw material ...
3.5 A market increasingly moving towards a low-carbon industry
According to Le Moniteur, the "Usine bas carbone ****" technological breakthrough program, in which clay bricks have been involved for ** years, is to be extended to the European level. Its impact on the clay brick market is already remarkable, as its thermal resistance has been multiplied by *, which means that energy consumption ...
4 Offer analysis
4.1 Factors in the price of clay brick construction
According to the official website of the world's leading manufacturer of terracotta products, Wienerberger, the following parameters are immediately apparent: surface area, whether or not there is an upper floor, the shape chosen and delivery (***), as well as the professional contacted.
Other factors also need to be taken into account:
Bricks ...
4.2 Clay brick product range typology
The clay brick market is divided into several categories, not all of which have the same market weight.
Typology of bricks on the clay bricks marketFrance, ****
Source: ****
Travaux Maçonnerie adds that the price of a terracotta brick house generally ranges from *** to *,*** euros per square meter, including tax. this range ...
4.3 Product benefits and breakdown by type
according to Travaux Maçonnerie, terracotta bricks offer a number of general advantages for construction:
High-quality, natural insulation for thermal savings: effective at containing heat in winter, and keeping cool in summer. An atrisanal construction based on a natural, ecological and recyclable material: clay, widely found in French subsoils Quick and ...
5 Regulations
5.1 Current and future regulations
At European level, there is a "Construction Products Regulation" (***) under which brick manufacturers must draw up a declaration of performance and affix the CE mark to their construction materials when these are covered by a harmonized European standard. Manufacturers are then required to undergo certification, which ensures that the product marketed ...
5.2 Financing assistance for eco-responsible brick homes
In addition to the price factors involved in building a home, we also need to take into account all those that can reduce the cost of construction.
Terracotta bricks, with their low environmental impact once installed (***), are part of an eco-responsible approach.
That's why numerous aid schemes have been set up ...
6 Positioning the players
6.1 Market segmentation between different players
- Edilians
- Terreal Groupe (Wienerberger Group)
- Wienerberger 1
- Bouyer Leroux Groupe
- Briqueterie Chimot
- Briqueteries du Nord
- La Française des Tuiles et des Briques
- Fabemi Groupe
- Wienerberger Terca
- Vandersanden
- Cleia Ingenierie
- Rairies Montrieux
- Acceo
- Raise invest
- Gide Loyrette Nouel Avocats
- Rairies Montrieux
List of charts
- Sales trends in the manufacture of clay bricks, tiles and building materials
- Sales trends in the manufacture of clay bricks, tiles and building materials
- Top 5 European countries producing clay bricks, tiles and building materials
- French clay brick exports negligible in relation to total production
- Breakdown of housing starts by category
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Latest news
Technical inspection: Acceo speeds up with Sagard - 04/03/2024
- 2016: European investment company Gimv acquires a stake in Acceo.
- Acceo has a network of 16 branches in France.
- It has more than 1,300 property management trustees, representing nearly 60% of its customer portfolio.
- Acceo sales: 39 million euros in 2023, forecast 50 million euros in 2024.
- The market generated by the new energy renovation regulations is estimated at between 2.5 and 3 billion euros.
- Acceo employs 430 people, with a forecast of 510 by the end of 2024.
- Acceo plans a minimum of seven additional acquisitions over the next five years. Gimv remains a minority shareholder in Acceo, alongside some sixty of the company's employees.
- Sagard, the fund launched by the Desmarais family and several industrialists, recently invested in Acceo
Building : Bouyer Leroux invests 76 million in decarbonization - 17/11/2023
- Firing clay bricks is an energy-intensive activity
- Bouyer Leroux, the French industry leader
- The cooperative, based near Cholet in the Maine-et-Loire region, has programmed 76 million euros between 2018 and 2027 to move away from fossil fuels, mainly gas.
- This brickworks, which produces 300,000 tonnes of bricks a year (equivalent to 18,000 houses), is one of the largest in France
- It intends to defend its leading position, with over 50% of the structural brick market, even after the announced merger of its competitors in France, Austrian Wienerberger, which has taken over Terreal.
- The cooperative (brick business) has sales of €165 million and 550 employees, and has made a series of acquisitions in joinery, wood flooring and precast concrete.
- Group with 2,000 employees and 540 million euros in consolidated sales
Cleia seeks to diversify - 15/09/2023
- The Cleia engineering group is based in Nolay (Côte-d'Or).
- Industrial production accounts for almost 70% of the group's sales.
- Last year, Cleia Group sales totaled 30 million euros.
- 120 employees.
- The Cleia Group is present in North Africa and Europe, and plans to expand into the Middle East.
Wienerberger world number one in terracotta - 10/08/2023
- Wienerberger, the world's leading manufacturer of clay products, saw its share price plunge by almost 10% on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
- The Group's new-build and renovation markets in Europe are expected to shrink by 30% and 15% respectively.
- In France, housing reservations plunged by 20% in volume and 28% in value for Nexity.
- For Kaufman & Broad, the drop is -11% in volume and -19% in value.
- For Altarea, the drop was -12% in volume and -7% in value.
- New home builder Hexaom saw its order intake drop by almost 36% in value and 42% in number over the first six months of 2023.
Terreal invests 20 million to save gas at its main tile plant | 20 million investment to save gas at Terreal - 16/05/2023
- Energy efficiency investment - 6.4 million euros
- Terreal sales - 880 million euros (50% in France)
SPPF industrial joinery invests 10 million euros in Cholet - 18/04/2023
- Subsidiary of Bouyer Leroux
- Door and closure manufacturer SPPF founded in 1947
- SPPF workforce: 190 employees
- Sales in 2021/2022: 58 million euros
- Daily production: 900 assembled shutters, 1,500 kit shutters
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