Clay Product & Refractory Manufacturing Industry Profile

Companies in this industry manufacture clay pottery, ceramics, plumbing fixtures, building materials, and refractory products. Major companies include Dal-Tile, Gerber Plumbing Fixtures, and Kohler (all of the US) as well as Kyocera, Shinagawa Refractories, and TOTO (all of Japan), Interceramic (Mexico), RHI Magnesita (the Netherlands), and Vesuvius (UK).

The global refractory market is forecast to grow more than 4% annually through 2030 to occupy a market size of about $45 billion, according to Global News Wire. Worldwide demand for plumbing fixtures and fitting is expected to develop at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around over 4%, reaching $106.4 billion by 2026, according to ReportLinker. Urbanization and rising incomes in the developing world, along with recovering construction markets in North America and Western Europe, are the chief demand drivers for plumbing fixtures.

The US clay product and refractory industry includes about 1,100 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined revenue of about $8 billion.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand is driven by industrial production of metals, glass, and other mineral-based products, as well as construction spending. The profitability of individual companies depends on efficient operations, as many products are considered commodities. Large companies enjoy economies of scale in purchasing and marketing. Small companies can compete effectively by developing new products with innovative features. The US industry is concentrated: the top 50 companies account for about 70% of industry revenue.

Imports, which primarily ...