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The global ceramics industry is undergoing a profound transformation – shaped by shifting consumer preferences, supply chain recalibrations, and increasingly intense regional competition. As we navigate this evolving landscape, the ASEAN sanitaryware market stands out as one of the most dynamic and fast-changing segments – where tradition meets innovation, and design sensibility converges with sustainability.

Our cover story, ‘Changing preferences for ASEAN sanitaryware’ by Jahir Ahmed, explores how Southeast Asia’s growing urban middle class is redefining what modern bathrooms should look and feel like. From Thailand to Vietnam, demand is no longer driven solely by affordability or durability – it is increasingly shaped by aesthetics, water efficiency, and smart design. Local manufacturers are innovating rapidly, while global players recalibrate their product portfolios and distribution networks to align with the new consumer mindset. The story demonstrates how ASEAN’s domestic brands are coming into their own – leveraging regional design identities and sustainability narratives to carve out market share against long-established global competitors.

Yet, the shifts in ASEAN do not occur in isolation. They are intertwined with the broader dynamics of the Indian and South Asian ceramics landscape – where Thangadh and Morbi continue their intense rivalry as India’s ceramic powerhouses. In our feature ‘Thangadh v Morbi: Battle of the giants in Indian sanitaryware’, Yogender Singh Malik examines the competitive dynamics between these two industrial hubs. Thangadh, steeped in tradition and renowned for its cost competitiveness, faces the modern manufacturing prowess and export strength of Morbi. This is more than a regional tussle – it reflects India’s wider industrial evolution, where heritage craftsmanship and advanced automation are finding ways to coexist and complement one another.

Another crucial factor shaping the industry is feldspar, the often-overlooked hero of ceramics. In ‘Focus on feldspar: Market machinations’, Rohan Gunasekera analyses how price volatility, export restrictions, and new beneficiation technologies are influencing production economics across the ceramic value chain. Feldspar’s significance may fly under the radar, yet it is the quiet force that determines the sheen, strength, and cost-efficiency of the products we admire and use every day.

Turning our gaze eastward, Bangladesh is steadily making its mark. In ‘Expanding markets for Bangladeshi tableware’, Jahir Ahmed explores how the country is leveraging abundant clay resources and low production costs to create export opportunities. Once a modest domestic sector, Bangladeshi tableware is now gaining international recognition for its design quality and competitive pricing – positioning the country as a rising contender in South Asia’s ceramic trade.

Adding a global perspective, Geberit, founded in 1874 in Rapperswil-Jona, Switzerland, specialises in sanitary systems and piping technology. In India, it operates as Geberit Plumbing Technology India Private Limited. Gorika Shyam, recently appointed managing director of Geberit India, speaks exclusively with Asian Ceramics about her experience leading India sales and the challenges and opportunities shaping the company’s growth. Her insights highlight how global expertise is being localised to navigate India’s unique market dynamics while embracing innovation and sustainability.

Collectively, these features underscore a central theme – the regionalisation of ceramics. Supply chains, markets, and design influences are no longer confined by borders. The ceramic trade is becoming increasingly multipolar, with ASEAN, India and Bangladesh each charting distinct yet interconnected growth paths.