2016 – a good year for the Dutch construction industry
The total production volume increased by 7 %, especially thanks to a high-performing housing construction sector. Alongside new builds (+12 %), maintenance and renovation did extremely well (+25 %). Domestic sales of facing bricks were able to keep up with this growth (+11 %), although exports declined. Sales of clay pavers remained more or less the same (1 %). The Dutch market for clay roofing tiles and baked floor and wall tiles developed well over the course of the year.
Durability
Social issues in the field of energy supply, climate-friendly entrepreneurship and circular construction forms are urging Dutch manufacturers of building ceramics to think about future building ceramics processes and products. In 2016, first steps were taken to update the KNB Sustainability Agenda. At its presentation in Amsterdam, it was clear that the sector is taking a sustainable environment seriously, but that it also envisages a role for itself in the future. The impact of clay extraction for building materials on the development of new (river) nature and flood management can...
