Italy Fiber Cement Board Market Overview, 2030

The Italian fiber cement board market took shape after the country banned asbestos in 1992, ending the dominance of asbestos-cement products long associated with the Eternit brand. In the post-ban years, commercial and public-sector construction led the shift toward safer alternatives, with fiber cement boards gaining traction for fire-resistant and moisture-tolerant applications. Early players included Eternit Italia (part of Etex Group), Cembrit, and Swisspearl, supplying through regional networks. Adoption spread through projects involving ventilated façades, mid-rise cladding, and modular interiors in public institutions, hospitals, and transportation hubs. Traditional construction regions initially resisted the shift, favoring stone, concrete, and brickwork. But interest grew with the rise of energy-efficient architecture and prefabricated building methods. National incentives like the Ecobonus, Superbonus 110%, and other green housing programs promoted usage of non-combustible materials that met Euroclass A1 or A2 fire safety standards. Earthquake-prone regions such as Abruzzo, Umbria, and Marche drove demand for lightweight and high-performance exterior panels suitable for reconstruction efforts. Architectural preferences evolved from plain fiber cement boards to textured, colored panels tailored for modern urban façades. Public-sector usage widened in schools, clinics, and social housing redevelopments, often under EU-backed funding. Regional dynamics showed stronger demand in Lombardy, Veneto, and Emilia-Romagna, driven by higher construction activity and design innovation. Southern and central regions saw slower but growing uptake. Italy’s architectural community increasingly accepted hybrid façade systems over traditional masonry due to their thermal efficiency, aesthetics, and ease of installation. Today, fiber cement boards are positioned in the Italian market as mid-to-premium solutions for long-life, low-maintenance external applications.

According to the research report, ""Italy Fiber Cement Board Market Overview, 2030,"" published by Bonafide Research, the Italy Fiber Cement Board market is anticipated to add to more than USD 90 Million by 2025–30. Core raw materials like Portland cement and sand are locally available and widely used, while cellulose and synthetic fibers are typically imported or recycled from European sources. Pricing trends fluctuate based on energy costs, fuel prices, and transportation charges within the EU, especially post-2021. The market is primarily B2B-driven, with major customers including prefab housing firms, architectural consultants, general contractors, and public procurement bodies. Sales are routed through established national distributors like Gruppo Made, BigMat, and Edilportale, along with niche façade specialists catering to architects and urban project developers. DIY and small-scale retail is limited boards are typically purchased in bulk through trade counters or project tenders. Online channels support configuration tools, spec sheets, and tender submissions but don’t offer direct purchasing functions. Key logistics hubs in Milan, Verona, and Bologna ensure rapid access to urban construction sites, especially in Northern Italy. Demand continues to rise from prefab developers, hotel renovations, and tourism infrastructure projects in coastal and alpine regions. Seismic safety remains a top concern, prompting adoption of lightweight cladding in earthquake-prone towns. Government projects in schools, hospitals, and civic buildings specify fiber cement in compliance with fire and moisture resistance criteria. The boards are also gaining market share in nZEB and passive house projects, where external insulation and ventilated façades play a critical role. Coastal areas like Liguria, Campania, and Sicily favor fiber cement boards for their resistance to mold, pests, and salt-laden air, especially in multi-unit housing and resort refurbishments.

In Italy, high-density fiber cement boards dominate the market due to their strong performance in exterior cladding, rainscreen systems, and fire-rated facades required under stringent EU safety directives and Italian anti-seismic construction codes. These boards are widely installed in commercial buildings, airports, schools, hospitals, and public transport terminals across regions like Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, and Lazio, where high footfall and urban density drive the need for durable, non-combustible materials. High-density panels in Italy often feature decorative finishes such as woodgrain or colored surfaces that complement modern architecture and are used with ventilated façade systems to meet energy efficiency requirements under Italy’s NZEB standards. Medium-density fiber cement boards are used in internal applications across residential and commercial interiors, including partitions, ceilings, and corridor linings in hotels, retail stores, and public sector offices. Their affordability and ease of installation make them a standard in school and healthcare refurbishments in regions like Tuscany and Veneto. Low-density boards are limited to temporary structures, kiosks, exhibition stands, and prefab cabins used in events, construction sites, or emergency housing projects. Their lighter weight allows easy handling and cost-effective transport in mountainous areas such as Trentino-Alto Adige and Sicily. Italian building professionals specify board type based on structural density, energy performance, and fire classification under UNI EN 12467 and Euroclass standards. As sustainable construction and seismic safety regulations expand, selection of board types in Italy increasingly aligns with project location, risk level, and the growing use of prefab and modular construction systems used in public housing, coastal resorts, and municipal infrastructure.

Italian fiber cement board producers rely heavily on Portland cement as the main binding material, sourced from domestic cement plants in regions like Lombardy, Puglia, and Sardinia. The boards are commonly manufactured using CEM I and CEM II grades that comply with EN 197-1 and are essential for providing the compressive strength, fire resistance, and weather durability required by Italy’s structural design codes. Silica is used as a filler material and is primarily derived from natural quartz or industrial byproducts like foundry sand or crushed glass from recycling plants, which is aligned with Italy’s national circular economy targets and EU waste recovery mandates. Cellulosic fibers used in board production include imported eucalyptus pulp from Brazil, recycled newspaper pulp from Northern Italy, and local agricultural waste such as straw, which provide flexibility, reduce board cracking during curing, and enhance acoustic insulation in housing units and public buildings. In some coastal applications, boards also include additives such as fly ash, pozzolans, and hydrophobic agents to improve moisture resistance and prevent salt spray damage in marine climates such as Liguria or Apulia. Pigments and polymeric additives are added to create colored and textured board variants used in decorative façades and retail fit-outs. The blend of raw materials in Italian production focuses on reducing CO₂ emissions and increasing green building compliance, especially for projects applying for CasaClima or LEED certification. The choice of raw material mix depends on the application segment, desired fire performance (Euroclass A2 or B), durability, and climate zone especially in areas affected by freeze-thaw cycles like the Po Valley or Alpine regions. The composition is optimized to meet both performance and environmental goals under Italy’s Recovery and Resilience Plan and the European Green Deal.

In Italy, wall cladding and façade paneling make up the largest application for fiber cement boards, especially in schools, hospitals, universities, social housing, and public administration buildings undergoing energy renovation funded under Italy’s Superbonus 110% and Green Building programs. High-density fiber cement boards are used in ventilated façade systems in Milan, Rome, Turin, and Florence, where municipal codes require non-combustible, weather-resistant, and energy-efficient external paneling. Prefabricated shelters are gaining traction in Italy’s earthquake-prone zones like Umbria, Abruzzo, and Molise, where fast-deployment housing for schools, clinics, or temporary living units use fiber cement for its fireproofing and seismic resilience. Public works departments also specify fiber cement boards in modular classrooms and temporary government units. Furniture applications include restroom cubicles, base cabinets, and worktop surfaces in offices, schools, and clinics, where fire safety and hygiene standards must be met. In hotels and holiday rentals across Sardinia, Sicily, and the Amalfi Coast, fiber cement is used for moisture-prone kitchen and bathroom furniture, offering a durable and termite-resistant alternative to MDF. Flooring underlayments made from fiber cement are also used in mezzanine floors and container buildings for pop-up events and site offices. Other applications include elevator shaft enclosures, ceiling panels in public transport stations, fire ducts, and telecom cabins, particularly in smart city pilot zones like Bologna or Milan. CNC-routed decorative fiber cement panels are installed in museums, libraries, and retail chains, responding to demand for durable yet artistic materials. Italy’s application landscape reflects regional differences, from humid coastal zones to cold Alpine regions, and integrates fire codes (DM 03/08/2015), seismic rules (NTC 2018), and green renovation incentives.

Italy’s residential sector remains the largest end-use segment for fiber cement boards, driven by urban retrofitting, seismic safety reinforcements, and sustainable home renovations funded under national schemes like the Ecobonus and Superbonus programs. In cities such as Naples, Palermo, and Bari, fiber cement boards are used in social housing and low-rise villas for cladding, fire-safe walls, and wet room partitions. High-density panels are installed on façades of older apartment blocks being upgraded for energy performance, especially in alignment with Italy’s Near-Zero Energy Building (NZEB) targets. Medium-density boards are selected for interiors particularly for ceilings and corridors in housing complexes and temporary residential units like student dorms or migrant shelters. In rural areas and reconstruction zones in Central Italy like Marche, Lazio, low-density boards are used in prefab cabins and modular homes that require fast deployment and low cost. The commercial sector also makes significant use of fiber cement boards, especially in malls, train stations, hospitals, and logistics centers across Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, and Lombardy. Applications include partitions, shaft covers, acoustic ceilings, and fire-resistant cladding, especially in large-scale developments funded under Italy’s PNRR infrastructure push. Fire-rated panels are mandatory in transport and healthcare facilities, driving demand in airports like Fiumicino and high-speed train terminals. Hospitality projects along the Italian coast and Alps also use moisture-resistant boards for guest bathrooms and kitchens.

Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2019
• Base year: 2024
• Estimated year: 2025
• Forecast year: 2030

Aspects covered in this report
• Fiber Cement Board Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Type
• High density fiber cement board
• Medium density fiber cement board
• Low density fiber cement board

By Raw Material
• Portland Cement
• Silica
• Cellulosic Fiber
• Others

By Application
• Furniture
• Flooring
• Wall Cladding & Panels
• Prefabricated Shelters
• Other Applications

By End Use
• Residential
• Commercial Show more