Valencia, Spain—This year marked the 25th edition of Cevisama, the International Ceramic Tile and Bathroom Furnishings Fair, held here annually. The 2007 exhibition was an eye-catching display of residential and commercial developments. And, there were numerous collections aimed to capture the interest of the U.S. market, Spain’s number one tile exporter.

It is evident that the exhibition has grown tremendously since its start—expanding from a 10,000-square-meter space to an exhibit area sprawling 82,000 square meters. And it has continued to include a larger international audience as well, with more than 25% of this year’s exhibitors coming from countries other than Spain. Show organizers also reported this year’s number of foreign attendees exceeded the 12,000 business professionals who toured the halls in 2006. Tile manufacturers comprised 62% of the show floor this year. And, large formats were all the rage—featured in various colors and textures.

Manufacturers such as Grespania showcased an assortment of innovative new tile collections. Many demonstrated perfecting the process of producing tile that resembles the appearance of authentic wood, stone and fabric. Furthermore, the metallic look remains popular. Always a leader in innovation, Tau Ceramica introduced the Tau Metallica collection. Apavisa also displayed several new developments, including its Inox collection—a combination of real metal with porcelain.

Manufacturers agreed neutral shades and earth tones remain a favorite among the U.S., as the country continues to be a promising market for the industry.