Dear readers,
After years of strong headwinds, it is safe to say that the industry is returning to calmer waters. Following three years of ongoing crisis in residential construction, 2026 is showing signs of a future that goes beyond mere crisis management. Building permits are on the rise, and investors and builders are regaining confidence. At the same time, the new normal in construction policy has been accepted by society: the low interest rate phase will not return, but construction must continue nonetheless.
In Germany, political initiatives show that key levers have been identified. The “Bauturbo” (construction turbo) is intended to speed up approvals and relieve the burden on building authorities, even if its effectiveness in practice has yet to be proven. The EH55 subsidy program is providing tangible impetus with €800 million to bring approved projects to fruition in the short term. A key issues paper is now available for building type E. It is crucial that these measures are consistently pursued and reliably supported so that the cautious upturn can develop into a sustainable new start. Stable framework conditions for the energy transition are essential for this.
At the same time, the brick industry is demonstrating its innovative strength. Robot-assisted wall systems, digital testing processes, serially usable flat bricks, and modular prefabricated wall and ceiling elements increase efficiency, quality, and speed. Optimized hole patterns, insulation fillings, and solar roof tiles enable energy standards ranging from GEG to passive house. There is additional potential in existing buildings, for example through roof and facade renovations in combination with photovoltaics or insulating bricks.
At the European level, the ceramics industry is making progress in the BREF process. At the same time, large parts of industrial policy have been shifted to the European level. We are responding to this by regularly seeking dialogue with European decision-makers, in close coordination with our umbrella organizations Tiles and Bricks Europe and Cerame-Unie. Continuous feedback between regulation and industrial practice and the limits of objective feasibility is essential in this context.
2026 could mark a turning point. The industry is regaining its bearings, and important political decisions have been made. Now it is time to stay the course: continue to reduce bureaucracy, stabilize funding frameworks, and drive forward digitalization. The brick industry will actively help shape this path – with a building material that continues to evolve and provide answers to new challenges.
I wish you a confident start to 2026.
Yours
Attila Gerhäuser
Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Association of the German Brick and Tile Industry e. V.
