Philippine Tile Maker Anticipates Strong Year

Santo Tomas, Batangas, Philippines, February 29, 2008—Mariwasa Siam Ceramics Inc., one of the biggest tile producers in the Philippines, said it should increase sales this year by 11 percent to $49.5 million because of a surge in construction.

It made a net income of $618,000 last year, and is projecting $742,000 in 2008, said Surasak Kraiwitchaicharoen, company president.

He told reporters that Mariwasa intended to fully use the capacity of its plant here this year after operating at only 80 percent of capacity through last year.

Surasak said Mariwasa had a 27-percent share of the tile market in the Philippines and expected an increase to 32 percent.

He said the tile industry in the Philippines was being threatened by cheap imports, mostly from China.

He said Mariwasa had a 50-percent market share in 1997, when cheap imports were still unheard of. He said imported tiles today had an estimated 60 percent of the market.