Tile prices soar, delivery times lengthen due to war in Ukraine
The war in Ukraine and the rise in gas prices are putting the tile industry under pressure. The specialist company Torchio, which operates in Normandy and Brittany, fears complicated months and shortages.
Delays are getting longer
Because gas is not the only material to peak. The industry mainly uses clay from Ukraine, which is valued for its physical properties and whiteness. The conflict requires the entire industry to reorganise itself. "There is quality clay in Sardinia, Brittany or Germany, but the demand is higher than the production capacity.observes the manager. In this context, factories prefer to refocus on the most common products. Some are considering taking a break, rather than producing at a loss.
"We already have delivery deadlines for July. This will create shortages, predicts Bruno Herbert, Torchio's second managing director. Especially as the whole of Europe has placed huge orders and emptied stocks in anticipation.
"We are concerned about our customers
For the company, however, this is not a time for panic. "We are sufficiently structured to face this crisis for a year. It is for our customers that we are concerned.Bruno Herbert, who assumes that private individuals will be less penalised. For large construction sites and public orders, however, the bill could be high. "I have a file on Cherbourg: between the framework agreement on the supply and the price today, there is a difference of 40 %.says Jean-Charles Kies. The sector fears, on the other hand, that clients may delay, which would have consequences for companies in a few months' time.
