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Imports of sanitary ware increase by 29% in January-April, affected by construction on the coast of Tirana

2025-06-04 07:37:00, Ekonomi CNA

Imports of sanitary ware increase by 29% in January-April, affected by

For the period January-April 2025, imports of the ceramics group totaled over 102 million kg, approaching the levels of the early 2000s, when the country faced the beginnings of a construction boom.

This is the highest level recorded for the 4-month period in almost the last 16 years, significantly exceeding the values ??of previous years.

Compared to the same period of the previous year, imports of the ceramics group have increased by 29% according to INSTAT data. Compared to the period before the Covid-19 pandemic, imports have increased by 92% in 2019.

After a moderate decline due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, imports began to recover. In 2021–2024, the import volume for the ceramics group for the months of January–April remained between 76 and 79 million kg, indicating a steady recovery.

According to representatives of plumbing equipment operators, the increase in imports for the period January-April was influenced by the intensification of construction activities in the country, which has also led to an increasing demand for construction materials, especially for ceramic products, such as tiles and plumbing fixtures.

For January-April 2025, imports were led by India and Spain, accounting for 23% and 22% of the total for the period, respectively. The rest of the imports are dominated by Turkey with 13% of the weight, followed by Serbia with 12% and Italy with 10% of the total weight.

According to representatives of one of the companies selling sanitary ware, the increase in imports is entirely influenced by the construction sector in the south of the country, where the development of tourist projects, such as resorts, residential complexes and hotels, but also in the capital, is concentrated.

Meanwhile, household consumer demand for plumbing continues to decline since the Covid-19 pandemic, due to the emigration of young families.

Although large tourism projects and urban construction in Tirana keep the demand for ceramics alive, operators' expectations for the future are pessimistic, expecting a decline in demand for apartments from families, influenced by emigration and high sales prices, which is also expected to be reflected in their sector./ Monitor Magazine