The European ceramics industry records total sales of around €26 billion, and employs 222.000 people. The European industry is estimated to provide a third of total world production, and has been able to maintain a positive trade balance with third countries. While the EU single market has stimulated further concentration in the industry, small and medium-sized companies tend to predominate.
The estimated 2003 data by sector are:
| Sector | sales (x bln Euro) | manpower (x 1000) |
| 10.1 | 69 | |
| 6.8 | 50 | |
| 2.0 | 48 | |
| 3.1 | 18 | |
| 1.9 | 25 | |
| 2.0 | 9 | |
| 0.3 | 3 |
