The global market for dinnerware is increasing slowly owing to changing patterns of shopping and consumers’ preferences. Manufacturers are now creating stylish, delicate, and attractive dinnerware to increase their sales. Catchy TV commercials, Web marketing, and print media advertisements are published to publicize one’s brand.
Some famous manufacturers of dinnerware include Corningware (corelle), Oneida, Mikasa, and Pfaltzfraff, Lenox, Noritake, Wedgwood, Royal Doulton and Mikasa

Global Statistics
In 2005, the market reached $9billion, a marginal 3.1% increase from the previous year. In 2006, the market grew 4.5% reaching to $36.9 billion.

Country-wise statistic
China
China is the leading country in dinnerware market with more than 5000 manufacturers and exporters. In 2005, US$2.8 billion of ceramic, porcelain, and melamine dinnerware was exported in the percentage ratio 17:43:40 of the total export volume. This is 25% more than the export revenue of the previous year. Export of porcelain dinnerware is mainly to EU countries, reaching US$433 million in 2005. Plastic, melamine dinnerware is chiefly exported to US, accounting for 36% of dinnerware export. Apart from US and EU, Asia is also a big export market for China.

United States
United States exports its dinnerware mainly to Canada with an estimated of $22.8million in 2001. The dinnerware in US is imported mainly from China(20%,$1.1billion), UK(19%), and Japan(18%). In 1998, US dinnerware market reached $2billion mark.

European Union
European Union In 2003, the tableware and kitchenware of EU market was estimated as 20.1Euro billion. France has the biggest market share of 25.2%, followed by UK(16.6%), Italy (15.2%), Germany(14.1%), Spain(6.5%), Netherlands(3.4%), and Belgium(2.0%).

Between 2001 2003, Import in EU was calculated to be 9.4 billion euro and 3.1 million tons. Germany is the lead importer(19.3%), followed by

Metalware is the imported mainly(25.2%), followed by plasticware(24.0%), glassware(22.7%), cutlery(9.8%), porcelain(9.5%), ceramic(6.7%), and woodware(2.1%). China is the lead importer. However, glassware and plasticware are imported from the West.

In 2003, EU countries together exported 9.5billion euro. Leading export countries were France(20.1%), Italy(19.2), Germany(17.7%) and UK(9.1%).

Based on the type of material used, dinnerware is categorized mainly as Chinaware or Ceramic, Glassware, Plasticware, Flatware or Stainless Steel, and Silverware.

Chinaware or Ceramic Dinnerware
Chinaware or Ceramic Dinnerware is commonest type of dinnerware. Once clay is shaped, it is heated at extremely high temperatures so that it gets non-porous, hard, smooth, and translucent. A decorative glaze is fused to a clay body at a temperature of 2700 to 2800 degrees. This process seals the ware and the design, giving it a particular finish. In the last stage of processing, the ware is fired again.

Different types of clay such as kaolin, quartz, and feldspar are used in different proportions. Kaolin gives plasticity, durability, consistency, and whiteness; quartz gives stability; feldspar is for vitrification. Aluminum or Bone ash, mainly ox bone, is also added during mixing process to increase the durability, elegance, strength, translucency, and whiteness of the ware.

Differences in firing temperatures, proportion of clay, and additional ingredients alters the usage, porosity, thickness, durability, plasticity, whiteness, glazing, opaqueness, and translucence of the chinaware objects. Based on these characteristics, Chinaware is further categorized as fine China or Porcelain, Bone china, Everyday dinnerware, Earthenware, Terra cotta, Stoneware, Maxima, and Ultima

Glassware
Glassware refers to non-ceramic ware, which is cheap and manufactured by machines. Pyroceram is a highly durable and chip resistant glass dinnerware which looks like fine china. Pyroceram was introduced by Corning.

Plasticware or Melamine dinnerware
Plasticware or Melamine dinnerware refers to unbreakable, lightweight plastic dinnerware. However, the ware can get disfigured and molten in microwave and dishwasher.

Flatware
Flatware refers to dinnerware made of stainless steel.

Silverware
Silverware refers to dinnerware made of silver.

Bambooware
Bambooware refers to dinnerware items made of bamboo wood.

Several factors such as price range, family size, and the food determine the type of dinnerware to purchase. Following are some tips for the dinnerware buyers:

• Ceramic dinnerware that contains lead glaze should not be used.
• The glaze on the ware should be without cracks, bubbles, and holes.
• Highest quality is porcelain, followed by fine china, bone china, stoneware, ironstone, earthenware, and plastic
• To determine if ware is bone china or porcelain, hold the ware against light and put your hand behind the ware. If you are able to see the shadow of your hand through the ware. When hit with forefinger or thumb, they produce a resonating sound. Check for smoothness of edges, clear and lustrous color.