The clay tile market - France

There are many different roofing materials on the market: terracotta tiles, slate roofs, concrete tiles, zinc roofs, shingle roofs, photovoltaic tiles, natural stone tiles, corrugated steel sheets and more. Lhe clay roof tile market is included in INSEE nomenclature 23.32Z: Manufacture of clay bricks, tiles and construction products. This segment is included in this nomenclature because it also includes clay bricks and clay pipes. This material has been in use since 1841, when the Gilardoni brothers revolutionized the clay industry with a 10-year patent on the creation of clay roof tiles. Today, this material can be produced in an impressive number of shapes and colors from the raw material of clay. Terracotta has been used in every region of France for generations. The main players on the French market are the Edilians, Monier, Terreal and Wienerberger groups. Today, several types of tile are on sale: flat or semi-circular. While most manufacturers recommend a lifespan of 30 years, some tiles can have guarantees of up to 50 or 100 years, according to FDES (Fiches de Données Environnementales et Sanitaires), making brick tiles a highly durable product. Nevertheless, this durability has not prevented the development of more technologically advanced products, and the sector's manufacturers continue to invest successfully in R&D. In 2021 and 2022, tile and brick production in France reached historic levels, with strong demand driven by renovation and the buoyant housing market. However, in 2023, this trend reversed significantly, with deliveries down by almost 22% on 2022, already down on 2021. This continued decline reflects the rapid deterioration of housing construction activity in France, exacerbated by the crisis in the new housing market and the sluggishness of the renovation market. Inventories have been replenished to pre-Pandemic COVID-19 levels, but production has slowed considerably, with structural bricks down 18.5% and roof tiles down 8% compared with 2022. This worrying situation highlights the major challenges facing the roof tile and brick industry, at a time when it is embarking on major investments for an energy and ecological transition. Frédéric Didier, Chairman of the Fédération Française des Tuiles et Briques, underlines the bleak outlook for 2024, with steadily declining demand and a severe impact on the entire construction industry.