|
> Key markets > Tableware
|
 |
|
(Source : Les dossiers sectoriels – Les Arts de la Table en chiffres - Edition 2007 / Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Industrie et de l’Emploi – SESSI)
The tableware industry covers both industries of inorganic products for the items made of ceramic or glass, and industries of metallurgy and metal conversion for the items made of metal, and the textile industry for table linen. It has a modest place in the consumer goods industries : 97 companies of 20 employees and more, out of a total of 20,000 employees and a turnover of more than 1.6 billion euros.
The tableware industries are located mainly in the North and East of France for glass & crystal manufacturing, and in the Centre West for china & cutlery.
|
Notable exports |
In terms of performances this group of industries presents rather singular characteristics due to the importance of luxury in this sector : direct exports represent more than 50 % of duty-free turnover, i.e. a rate higher than the average of consumer goods (30 %).
The VAT, very high too, shows the importance of creation & know-how in these industries. For 45 % in tableware, the rate is 28 % in all consumer goods industries. |
|
A strong European presence |
France is one of the five European countries to be present on the tableware market, with Germany, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom. Items for the table made of china represent in value the first field in the EEC. Despite increasing difficulties, items made of glass & china are well present in the EEC.
Italy is well placed in the fields of items for tableware made of stainless steel & stoneware. On the other hand France is well placed in the manufacturing of place settings. |
|
An active foreign trade |
The foreign trade surplus is the result of glass & crystal exports. On the other hand Asian competition modifies companies of other fields such as textile, cutlery and china – their balance of trade is negative.
France exports top-of-the-range products in the USA, Western Europe and the United Arab Emirates. The USA, first customer of France, represent more than 10 % of French exports. The share of intra-Community exports reaches 30 % of exports value. The United Kingdom, Germany and Italy are the three main customers. |
|
Glassware |
This category includes companies manufacturing glasses made of crystal or toughened glass, cut, decorated or not. Items for the table, the kitchen, ornamentation, made of crystal, glass, hand-made or machine-made are also included. |
|
Disparate structures |
With a turnover of nearly one billion euros and 13,200 employees, this industry of nine companies represents more than 60 % of the turnover and nearly 65 % of the employees in tableware. This trade is very mixed : in 2005 an international company of mechanical glassware is in contact with crystal glassworks, small structures, often subsidiaries of big groups in luxury.
Both mechanical glass & crystal industries are distinguished by a high VAT, and particularly by an export rate which is three-quarters of the turnover. On the contrary the trading margin rate is negative in 2005, and the investment rate is twice less important than the one of the manufacturing industry. Industrial activities, in particular those linked to crafts are greatly fragile in the context of a regular drop of the market. |
|
Faced with the crisis : innovation & creation |
In the face of the market reduction, the mechanical glassware industry develops outside growing strategies and pursues sizeable investment programs in order to rationalize manufacturing in France but also abroad. It diversifies its exports in Asia and the Middle East as well. |
|
An always active balance of trade |
The table glassware industry, carried by the exports that represent more than 75 % of its turnover, is therefore extremely sensitive to the worldwide situation.
The mechanical glassware & crystal industries also differ by their export zones : the first one exports a lot in Europe, and the two main customers of the second one are the USA and the United Arab Emirates.
For 10 years the imports have been increasing. The Republic of China asserts itself through globalization. It has become the first supplier of staples in France, with more than a quarter of goods imported. In 2000, products coming for the ROC represented 20 million euros, i.e. hardly 10 % of all imports.
Considering upmarket, the main import countries are intra-Community. They represent 35 % of all imports. Italy (mostly Murano), famous for its design, together with Germany and Spain, are serious competitors for France.
|
