Ceramic building bricks market in Slovakia

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, the market volume for ceramic building bricks in Slovakia declined from 44.4 million US dollars to 39.2 million US dollars. This decrease coincided with rising energy and raw material costs, which increased production expenses and likely dampened demand. During this period, established producers like Ipeľské tehelne and Wienerberger maintained their presence, and product innovations such as perforated thin-walled blocks continued to evolve.

The market rebounded sharply in 2021 and 2022, reaching a peak of 69.6 million US dollars. This growth was primarily driven by price increases resulting from supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic and, subsequently, the war in Ukraine, which caused energy costs to surge and further strained material availability.

After the peak, the market corrected downward to 40.0 million US dollars in 2023 and 32.0 million US dollars in 2024. Amid this contraction, the Slovak company Ceramic Houses introduced innovative ceramic prefabricated solutions, expanding the product range available in the market.

Production ceramic building bricks in Slovakia

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In 2020, Slovakia's production of ceramic building bricks was valued at 39 668 thousand US dollars, marking a 4.1% year-on-year increase. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 33.2%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 10.0%. The highest production value was recorded in 2018 at 42 109 thousand US dollars, with the largest annual increase of 41.4% occurring that same year. In contrast, 2019 saw the most significant decline, with production dropping by 9.5%.

Annual dynamics of production in Slovakia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Exports ceramic building bricks from Slovakia

Exports in kind, K t

Exports of ceramic building bricks from Slovakia showed notable fluctuations during the period. In 2020, exports amounted to 116.7 thousand tonnes, reflecting a moderate decrease of 5.9% compared to 2019. The peak export volume was recorded in 2018 at 133.7 thousand tonnes, which represented a substantial 94.7% increase from the previous year. Exports hit their lowest point in 2017, with a 1.9-fold difference between the high in 2018 and this low. The largest decline occurred in 2019, when exports fell by 7.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Slovakia in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Poland, Hungary, and Czechia were the primary destinations for Slovakia's ceramic building brick exports in volume terms. Poland accounted for 39.0% of exports, Hungary for 31.3%, and Czechia for 16.6%. Together, these three countries made up 86.9% of Slovakia's total export volume in this category.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Slovakia in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Slovakia's ceramic building brick exports in value terms experienced a decline in 2020 after two consecutive years of growth. In 2020, exports stood at 9 050 thousand US dollars, indicating a moderate contraction of 3.9% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports increased by 60.6%, equating to an average annual growth rate of 17.1%. The highest export value was recorded in 2019 at 9 416 thousand US dollars, while the largest annual increase of 59.7% occurred in 2018.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Slovakia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

During 2017-2020, Poland, Hungary, and Czechia dominated Slovakia's ceramic building brick exports in value terms, collectively accounting for 91.7% of total export value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Slovakia in value, 2017-2020

Imports ceramic building bricks to Slovakia

Imports in kind, K t

In 2020, Slovakia imported 79.6 thousand tonnes of ceramic building bricks, which represents a sharp decline of 44.8% from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 39.8%, with a compound annual growth rate of -15.6%. The peak import volume was recorded in 2019 at 144.1 thousand tonnes, which also saw the largest annual increase of 24.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Slovakia in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Czechia, Hungary, and Austria were the main sources of ceramic building brick imports to Slovakia in volume terms. Czechia accounted for 69.0% of imports, Hungary for 9.8%, and Austria for 8.6%. Together, these three countries supplied 87.4% of Slovakia's total import volume in this category.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Slovakia in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, Slovakia's imports of ceramic building bricks in value terms totaled 8 625 thousand US dollars, equivalent to a year-on-year decline of 34.8%. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 25.6%, which translates to an average annual decline of 9.4%. The highest import value was recorded in 2019 at 13 237 thousand US dollars, with the largest annual increase of 16.7% occurring that same year.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Slovakia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

During 2017-2020, Czechia, Hungary, and the Netherlands were the principal sources of Slovakia's ceramic building brick imports in value terms. Czechia accounted for 68.8% of import value, Hungary for 6.9%, and the Netherlands for 5.8%. Together, these three countries represented 81.6% of total import value.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Slovakia in value, 2017-2020