Changes in the Tile Industry: Evolution, Trends and the Future of the Sector

The tile industry is undergoing a transformation that extends far beyond the finished product. Energy pressures, environmental requirements, the evolution of formats and international competition are redefining how ceramic surfaces are designed, formulated and manufactured.

Today, standing out requires technical precision, product vision and responsiveness. It requires understanding how a material behaves on the production line, how to preserve an effect after firing and how to turn an idea into a viable and repeatable solution.

At Kerafrit, we see this moment as an opportunity to move forward together: combining technical expertise, product vision and continuous listening to turn every requirement into a viable solution.

The tile industry is entering a new stage of transformation

The Spanish ceramic industry maintains a strong international focus. According to ASCER’s provisional data for 2025, the sector achieved an estimated turnover of €4.834 billion, with 72% of sales generated in international markets. This figure confirms the importance of exports, but also the need to compete through specialisation, reliability and responsiveness.

From traditional production to a more technology-driven industry

The evolution of production can be seen in formats, performance and process control. Porcelain stoneware, large-format tiles and thinner solutions have expanded the range of possible applications, but they have also increased the level of precision required at every stage of manufacturing.

Automation, traceability and the data analysis enabled by digitalisation make it possible to detect deviations before they become production issues. However, the value does not lie solely in adopting technology. It also requires technical expertise, interpretation and people capable of adjusting and applying it to  the reality of each factory.

A well-adjusted formulation, a stable suspension or a glaze adapted to the firing cycle can make the difference between a variable process and reliable production. Useful innovation does not add complexity: it provides control.

An increasingly competitive sector on the international stage

Today, competing is not only about price. Agility, technical quality, batch-to-batch consistency, customisation capabilities and support for any production or development requirement are equally important. 

In this context, each country competes from a different position of strength:

• Italy maintains a well-established position in the luxury market and exclusive architectural applications.

• China stands out for its production capacity and economies of scale.

• India, particularly through the Morbi cluster, has strengthened its presence with competitive pricing, digital technology and large-format production.

The Spanish industry has a clear opportunity in specialisation, flexibility and close customer relationships. It is not only about manufacturing well. It is about sharing knowledge, responding with expertise and turning a specific requirement into a solution that works in production.

Sustainability is driving the latest changes in the tile industry

Sustainability has moved from being a statement of intent to becoming a condition for competitiveness. Reducing consumption, minimising waste, optimising raw materials and recovering resources are decisions that directly affect industrial performance and the sector’s future viability.

Caring for the surface also means caring for everything behind it: materials, energy, water, time and the decisions that support every result.

More efficient production and a reduced environmental impact

Improving efficiency begins with the process itself. Adjusting the body composition, stabilising a suspension, optimising an application or reducing defects helps make better use of resources and avoid losses of material, energy and time.

Ceramic deflocculants, binders and rheology modifiers can make a significant contribution to this improvement when integrated into a comprehensive formulation strategy. Working with a higher solids content, optimising slip stability, improving spray drying and adjusting body thickness can help achieve more efficient processes according to the conditions of each factory.

Circularity is also becoming increasingly important. Recovering water, sludge, pre-firing waste and reclaimed materials helps reduce dependence on virgin resources and extend the useful life of raw materials.

In the field of digital decoration, initiatives such as the LIFE REPLAY project stand out. Coordinated by ITC-AICE, it focuses on recovering and valorising inkjet ink waste to create more sustainable ceramic solutions.

At the same time, Environmental Product Declarations help communicate the environmental impact of a ceramic solution more transparently. The challenge is no longer simply to claim that a process is more sustainable. It is to demonstrate what improves, how it is measured and what long-term value it provides.

Functional surfaces and new applications

Ceramic innovation is also expanding the role of surfaces within the built environment. It is no longer only about designing a durable or visually distinctive product. It is about developing solutions capable of addressing specific challenges in architecture, urban mobility, hygiene and water management.

Permeable paving for sustainable urban drainage systems represents one of the areas with the greatest potential. Its aim is to encourage rainwater infiltration, reduce surface runoff and contribute to more efficient urban water management. In these applications, ceramic materials must simultaneously meet technical, durability, safety and hydraulic performance requirements.

Research into functional surfaces with specific properties also continues, including solutions designed to improve hygiene in certain spaces. These developments still require technical and regulatory validation, as well as responsible implementation, but they reflect a clear direction: ceramics can provide value beyond the visible finish.

New energy challenges for the ceramic sector

Energy remains one of the industry’s main challenges. Spray drying, drying and firing account for a significant share of consumption and require a combination of operational efficiency, technological innovation and energy infrastructure prepared for change.

There is no single path forward:

• Electrification: it makes it possible to reach firing temperatures and eliminate direct emissions, but its implementation depends on kiln design, waste heat recovery and the capacity of the electricity grid.

• Thermal energy storage: it helps improve energy management in continuous processes such as dryers, spray dryers and kilns.

• Biomethane: it can be integrated more directly into existing networks and equipment, although its availability remains limited.

• Green hydrogen: it is attracting considerable medium- and long-term interest, but requires significant technical adaptations to continuous kilns.

• CO₂ capture, storage and utilisation.

All these alternatives will need to be assessed according to the technical requirements, consumption profile and viability of each plant.

While these solutions continue to evolve, some decisions are already making a difference: optimising formulations, reducing thickness where the project allows, improving process stability and minimising defects that lead to reprocessing or waste.

Technological innovation in tile manufacturing

Technical innovation is not an end in itself; it makes sense when it addresses a specific need. When it improves a surface, ensures an effect, enhances resistance, facilitates application or makes a production line more stable.

At Kerafrit, we understand each glaze, ink, grit or additive as part of a system. Materials do not act in isolation: they respond to the design, the production line and the final use of the tile.

New processes and advances in ceramic production

Stability is built through attention to detail. Viscosity, particle size distribution, application, drying and firing are all interconnected. A small variation at any of these stages can affect the final appearance, resistance or repeatability.

For this reason, industry progress does not depend solely on automation. It depends on integrating data, technical expertise and decision-making capabilities. Non-destructive inspection, real-time control systems and artificial intelligence tools make it possible to anticipate deviations and protect quality before a problem reaches the end of the production line.

Industrial digitalisation provides value when it supports better decision-making. For this reason, the ASEBEC 4.0 Guide is designed to support ceramic machinery and tile manufacturers throughout this transition. It promotes the complete interconnection of production plants and the implementation of enabling technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence and Digital Twins. 

Technology applied to product design and development

Design and technology cannot progress separately. An attractive surface must be viable in the factory, retain its character after firing and meet market requirements.

Digitalisation has expanded the ability to work on surfaces with greater precision. Today, glazing systems and digital ink decoration make it possible to control the amount of material applied more accurately, create more defined effects and develop reliefs, textures or finishes coordinated with the tile graphics.

This evolution is particularly relevant when working with glazes and water-based suspensions. On-demand digital application makes it possible to adjust material deposition, reduce waste and open up new possibilities for delicate substrates or developments in which the uniformity of the base layer is essential. The value does not lie solely in digitalising one stage of the process, but in ensuring that each application responds more accurately to the desired effect.

Platforms capable of combining dry and wet digital decoration are also advancing. Coloured powders, grits, structuring adhesives, full-field glazes and special effects can work together to create surfaces with greater depth, synchronised relief and visual continuity, particularly in large formats.

This is transforming the way collections are developed. Graphics are no longer added at the end of the process as an independent layer. They are developed together with the glaze, structure, protection and firing cycle. Each element contributes to the final result.

The most valuable innovation brings together material expertise and product vision. It transforms an aesthetic intention into a surface that performs, can be reproduced consistently and adds value to a collection.

Design trends transforming the tile market

Trends are not limited to a colour or texture. They reflect new ways of living, understanding spaces and seeking a balance between emotion, functionality and durability.

In ceramics, every trend requires a technical interpretation. A matt finish, a mineral texture, a subtle relief or a high-gloss surface requires a formulation capable of maintaining its identity throughout the entire production process.

New ceramic formats, finishes and styles

Large formats remain relevant due to their ability to create visual continuity and reduce the number of joints. At the same time, thinner tiles provide new opportunities in renovation, refurbishment and applications where weight and ease of installation are decisive factors.

Small and medium formats are also regaining prominence, particularly in irregular geometric compositions. This combination of different scales expands design possibilities and requires solutions adapted to each application.

In terms of finishes, matt, silky and mineral surfaces are becoming increasingly important. Microtextures, controlled reliefs and combinations of smooth and structured areas make it possible to create more sensory surfaces, with visual depth and a richer relationship with light.

The creative directions shaping the market include:

How the preferences of architects and consumers are changing

The evolution of tiles is aligned with the demands of architects, interior designers and specifiers, as well as end users, who expect solutions capable of performing beyond their visible appearance.

Ceramic specifiers look for solutions that combine aesthetics, technical viability and on-site efficiency. Format, resistance, maintenance, slip resistance and environmental information all form part of the same decision.

For end users, value is increasingly focused on everyday wellbeing: surfaces that are easy to maintain, pleasant to the touch, visually balanced and capable of responding to the actual use of a space.

Functionality must be integrated without becoming dominant. A technical surface can provide resistance, grip or protection without compromising the aesthetic sensitivity that defines a project. In more demanding applications, protective glazes help enhance resistance to wear, scratching and chemical attack.

Digitalisation and new forms of commercialisation in the tile sector

Digitalisation is transforming the way we share information, document developments and accelerate decision-making. However, it does not replace human relationships. It makes them more accessible and useful.

A good digital environment makes it possible to compare references, consult technical information, find inspiration and progress more efficiently. Dialogue, the interpretation of each challenge and ongoing support remain irreplaceable.

Digital channels and relationships with distributors and customers

Commercial digitalisation does not replace the technical relationship. It makes it more agile, accessible and useful.

Technical content, development case studies, product data sheets, inspiration spaces and specialist support help stakeholders make decisions with greater confidence. In a B2B environment, sharing clear and applicable information strengthens commercial relationships and facilitates collaboration between production, product, purchasing and design teams.

B2B platforms and private customer environments are also gaining relevance. They make it possible to centralise documentation, consult references, manage orders and maintain more fluid communication across international markets.

At the same time, BIM libraries and specification tools based on technical data bring ceramic products closer to architects and specifiers from the earliest stages of a project. Information on use, performance, maintenance and environmental impact therefore becomes another part of the value proposition.

Artificial intelligence-based visualisation and simulation tools, such as virtual showrooms, are beginning to gain ground at this stage. They make it possible to interpret a surface within a space, compare alternatives and visualise patterns, formats or finishes before making a decision. For architects, distributors and sales teams, this can reduce uncertainty and facilitate more precise conversations from the outset.