Dealers in sanitary wares products have said residential buildings continue to lead demand despite slow rate of housing supply and marginal economic growth limiting disposable income in Nigerians pockets.
Compared to the rate orders are received from corporate organisations, Chukwuma Okafor Dofas Technical Nigeria Ltd., a sanitary centred company, said construction of residential apartments has been sustaining the higher volume of demand in the market, although quality class differs.
Emmanuel Ejim of Choice Sanitary Wares corroborated him, saying demand continues to grow as more buildings spring up.
They, however, say buyers are caught between longing for quality and cheap rates. “Some people want quality products at cheap prices and you cannot have those together. Some are cheap but lack quality,” Okafor explained
Although most sanitary products are imported from China among other countries, he sees Nigeria beginning its production in the near future. Currently in Nigeria, VitrA, Ariston, Creavit, Legrand and Kale are some of the top leading brands common to people.
VitrA whose showroom is in Victoria Island is repute for classy, up-to-date and luxury bathroom accessories among property developers and interior designers. It supplies millions of pieces of ceramic sanitary wares each year, with 50 percent of the products over 150 showrooms and 2,000 sales points, in major cities of 75 countries.
Creavit keenly chases VitrA with focus on producing sanitary solutions of wet areas such as toilet seats, faucets, sinks, shower panel, bathroom accessories like ring towel, tissue holder, tumbler holder and table sink.
In Nigeria, Ariston is a popular brand for water heater products even though it plays provides kitchens to laundry appliances as well.
Ariston is a part of the world’s leading global manufacturer of home appliances, with approximately $21 billion in annual sales, 70 manufacturing and technology research centres around the world. Ariston predicts customer’s future needs and understands how to improve the way to help customers today in their everyday lives with high-quality solutions.
READ ALSO: UBEC distributes sanitary items to Lagos primary schools
According to Allied Market Research, the global sanitary ware market was worth $9,194 million in 2017 and is projected to reach $13,616 million by 2025, registering a compound annual growth rate of 5.0 percent from 2018 to 2025.
Sanitary ware comprises toilet sinks, wash basins, cisterns, and pedestals. These products were traditionally manufactured using porcelain, which is a ceramic material. However, sanitary wares are now being manufactured using metals, glass, plastics, and other materials. Ceramic sanitary wares are cost-effective, have excellent resistance to chemical attacks, and can withstand heavy loads.
Considerations including rise in construction activities in developing countries, increase in concerns related to health & hygiene, and availability of abundant raw materials, propel the growth of the sanitary ware market.
Furthermore healthy lifestyle, disposable income of consumers, surge in urbanization, growth in a shift from unbranded products to branded products, and strong replacement demand, have supplemented the growth of the global sanitary ware market.
Temitayo Ayetoto
