Jiajiang (Sichuan Province) is the sixth largest ceramic producing area in China, with more than 100 ceramic enterprises and 200 ceramic production lines, and also well known as “Western Ceramic Capital”. Ceramic industry is one of the local pillar industries. It is learned that, in the second quarter, a total of 1.62 billion RMB are planned to invest in Jiajiang, out of which 857 million are planned to invest by 5 ceramic enterprises in new lines and technological improvement. The whole investment includes 12 projects, involving fields like industry, energy, transportation and construction.

One of the 5 Ceramic enterprises intends to invest 400 million RMB in a fully polished tile production line with an annual output of 6 million ㎡ and a microcrystalline stone production line with an annual output of 6 million ㎡; one intends to invest 200 million RMB in a fully polished glazed tile production line with an annual output of 10 million ㎡; one intends to invest 970 million RMB in upgrading a polished tile production line with an annual output of 3 million ㎡; one intends to invest 80 million RMB in kiln energy saving while one intends to invest 80 million RMB in upgrading an antique tile production line with an annual output of 3.5 million ㎡.

In terms of the whole production capacity structure of Jiajiang producing area, there are relatively few companies that produce fully polished glaze and microcrystalline products, mainly some big ones like Sichuan Xin Zhong Yuan Ceramics, Jianhui Ceramics, Guangle Ceramics, Xin Wan Xing Ceramics, etc. Fully polished glaze and microcrystalline products are high value-added products in that area, individual enterprise can only produce a few thousand square meters per day.

After nearly 3-year development, the tile production climax recedes and the production capacity is quite stable. Price war has already broken out among manufacturers. Many tile manufacturers which produce 300×450 (mm) products, now mainly focus on 300×600 (mm) products. No longer a legend, inkjet tiles have become conventional mainstream products, whose prices are severely diminished.

It is reported that, in Sichuan area, companies outside Jiajiang also have plans to build new full polished glazed tile production line with a daily output of tens of thousands square meters. It won’t take long that fights for channels and price wars will break out among all those manufacturers after all these new lines go into operation.

Editor Li Xiaojuan, Deng Shiya

This is the 12th issue.