German brick and tile industry hurt by long, hard winter of 2012/2013
Coming into last year, for the second time in a row, the winter was extremely long and snowy, with severe consequences for the housing sector. Well into April 2013, Germany‘s construction sites were practically paralysed, and that spelled hard times for the member companies of the country‘s national association of brick and tile producers Bundesverband der Deutschen Ziegelindustrie e.V. (Bonn).
Roof tiles
According to figures released by Germany‘s Federal Statistical Office, 647.2 million ceramic roof tiles were produced in 2013 (after 697.2 million in 2012), for a decline of 7.2%. The output value of all those German-made roof tiles also took a hit: products with a total value of € 660.3 million were...