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Ceramic Household & Ornamental Article Manufacturing in the UK - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Joseph Maher Joseph Maher London, United Kingdom Last Updated: April 2024 SIC C23.410

Revenue

£412.8m

2024-25

£423.5m

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£XX.Xm

Employees

7,974

Businesses

277

Wages

£XXX.Xm

Ceramic Household & Ornamental Article Manufacturing in the UK industry analysis

The Ceramic Household and Ornamental Article Manufacturing industry has been declining recently – until 2022-23. The COVID-19 pandemic played a big part in this, bringing about enormous challenges for companies in the ceramics market, with supply chain disruptions and lockdown restrictions taking a toll on key markets. The industry began to bounce back when COVID-19 restriction were lifted; although the economic conditions were still harsh, the reopening of key ceramics markets, like hotels and restaurants, helped drive up sales. Over the five years through 2023-24, revenue is anticipated to dip at a compound annual rate of 5.5% to £412.8 million, including a projected hike of 1.7% in 2023-24.
Ceramics makers benefit hugely from anti-dumping tariffs placed on Chinese ceramics imports and government policies to boost the innovative capacity of the broader manufacturing sector. Mounting interest in high-quality British-manufactured goods has also had a positive effect, with ceramics makers capitalising on heritage brands to support their presence in overseas markets. However, struggles remain. The cost-of-living squeeze the has hurt the hospitality sector since 2021-22, with more people looking to save money and eat at home, eroding demand for tableware and kitchenware from restaurants and limiting revenue growth. At the same time, soaring energy prices have hit ceramics manufacturers’ profitability, given the production process is energy-intensive. Things are looking up in 2023-24, though, with restaurant and hotel patronage inching upwards, partly thanks to this year seeing the highest number of international tourists since before the pandemic.
Over the five years through 2028-29, revenue is slated to swell at a compound annual rate of 1.4% to reach £443.3 million. Demand from hospitality, restaurants and catering companies will climb as cost pressures begin to ease. Tourism levels are also set to recover, aiding both the hospitality sector and sales of souvenirs, lifting revenue growth. There are still some hurdles to overcome though; imports from low-cost overseas manufacturers will continue to dominate the market. The future performance of exports depends on whether the US and the UK can build upon current UK-US trade agreements or agree upon a free trade agreement for UK ceramics.

Trends and Insights

  • Tourism's post-pandemic recovery drives up sales of souvenirs. COVID-19 hit tourism hard, denting sales of ceramic souvenirs. With tourism on the rebound, sales are slowly building back up to their pre-pandemic level.
  • The hospitality sector feels the pinch of higher living costs. People are eating out less to save while rising energy and food prices are forcing restaurants to cut costs on ceramic goods.
  • The West Midlands, especially Stoke-on-Trent, is the UK's ceramics hub. Major manufacturers like Portmeirion, Churchill China and Steelite are based here.
  • The biggest manufacturers hold significant sway. The UK’s four biggest ceramic article producers control over 30% of the market, benefitting from economies of scale. However, smaller competitors thrive in niche markets offering more personalised items.

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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 5.5 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £412.8m in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Rampant inflation slows revenue growth and weighs on profitability

  • Ceramic household article manufacturers have had to contend with soaring raw material prices brought about by supply chain disruptions following the COVID-19 outbreak, creating mass shortages that have weighed on their profitability.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Ceramic Household & Ornamental Article Manufacturing in the UK
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Falling inflation and energy costs give ceramics manufacturers a boost

  • The Bank of England forecasts inflation to fall to around its target of 2% in spring 2024, before rising again slightly in the second half of the year. With living costs closer to their historical averages more people will be inclined to spend on eating out, lifting demand for ceramics from the hospitality sector.

Biggest companies in the Ceramic Household & Ornamental Article Manufacturing in the UK

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (£m)
2024
Churchill China plc
77.0
Steelite International Ltd
36.1
Emma Bridgewater Ltd
29.1

To view the market share and analysis for all 6 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Ceramic Household & Ornamental Article Manufacturing in the UK
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Stoneware and earthenware table and kitchenware, Porcelain and china tableware and Ceramic vases, decorative dishes and other household ornaments . Stoneware and earthenware table and kitchenware is the largest segment of the Ceramic Household & Ornamental Article Manufacturing in the UK.

Trends and Insights

Fierce import competition hits demand for stoneware and earthenware table and kitchenware

  • Basic earthenware and stoneware products are difficult to tell apart, as they’re made from clay of similar colours. Stoneware is frequently used in ovenware due to its ability to withstand high temperatures. It's also less fragile and more durable than porcelain and china tableware, making it ideal for products for everyday use in households and low to mid-budget hotels and restaurants. Earthenware is more likely to be found in household kitchenware.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Companies in this industry manufacture ceramic household and ornamental goods. This includes ceramic kitchenware and tableware, figurines, statuettes, pottery and other ornamental household articles.

What's included in this industry?

Stoneware and earthenware table and kitchenwarePorcelain and china tablewareCeramic vases, decorative dishes and other household ornamentsCeramic collectible articlesSoap dispensers and toothbrush holders

Companies

Churchill China plcSteelite International LtdEmma Bridgewater Ltd

Purchase this report to view all 6 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

CERAMICBONE CHINAPORCELAINEARTHENWARESTONEWAREFETTLING

Industry Code

SIC 2007

SIC 23.41 - Ceramic Household & Ornamental Article Manufacturing in the UK

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Tourism's post-pandemic recovery drives up sales of souvenirs. COVID-19 hit tourism hard, denting sales of ceramic souvenirs. With tourism on the rebound, sales are slowly bu...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

The hospitality sector feels the pinch of higher living costs. People are eating out less to save while rising energy and food prices are forcing restaurants to cut costs on ...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The West Midlands, especially Stoke-on-Trent, is the UK's ceramics hub. Major manufacturers like Portmeirion, Churchill China and Steelite are based here.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The biggest manufacturers hold significant sway. The UK’s four biggest ceramic article producers control over 30% of the market, benefitting from economies of scale. However,...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Churchill's revenue recovers post-pandemic. The company saw a sharp drop in sales due to COVID-19 enforced closures of its main clientele, the hospitality sector, but revenue...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Churchill China plc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Steelite International Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Emma Bridgewater Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 3 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Churchill China plc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Steelite International Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Emma Bridgewater Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 3 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Manufacturers explore hydrogen as an alternative fuel. £6 million in government funding has been allocated to researching 100% hydrogen-firing technologies, marking a major s...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Supply chain disruptions push up purchase costs. This is mainly due to the shipping crisis in the Red Sea in 2023-24. Manufacturers are tackling this by adopting more efficie...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Assets (2018-2022)
  • Liabilities (2018-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Ceramic Household & Ornamental Article Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?

The market size of the Ceramic Household & Ornamental Article Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £412.8m in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Ceramic Household & Ornamental Article Manufacturing in the UK industry in 2024?

There are 277 businesses in the Ceramic Household & Ornamental Article Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 5.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Ceramic Household & Ornamental Article Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Ceramic Household & Ornamental Article Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been declining at a CAGR of 5.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Ceramic Household & Ornamental Article Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Ceramic Household & Ornamental Article Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Ceramic Household & Ornamental Article Manufacturing in the UK market in United Kingdom?

The biggest companies operating in the Ceramic Household & Ornamental Article Manufacturing market in United Kingdom are Churchill China plc, Steelite International Ltd and Emma Bridgewater Ltd

What does the Ceramic Household & Ornamental Article Manufacturing in the UK in United Kingdom include?

Stoneware and earthenware table and kitchenware and Porcelain and china tableware are part of the Ceramic Household & Ornamental Article Manufacturing in the UK industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Ceramic Household & Ornamental Article Manufacturing in the UK in United Kingdom?

The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is Churchill China plc.

How competitive is the Ceramic Household & Ornamental Article Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Ceramic Household & Ornamental Article Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Flat Glass Manufacturing in the UK
  • Hollow Glass Manufacturing in the UK

Complementors

  • Ceramic Sanitary Fixtures Manufacturing in the UK
  • Brick & Tile Manufacturing in the UK

International industries

  • Ceramics Manufacturing in the US
  • Ceramics Manufacturing in Canada
  • Ceramic Product Manufacturing in Australia

View all industries in United Kingdom

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Key data sources in the UK include:

  • Office for National Statistics
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  • Bank of England

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  • Industry federations or regulators
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