Fascinating Brick Facts: History, Industry, and Materials
⏳ Oldest Known Building Material
The history of the brick dates back approximately 7,000 BC! The earliest examples were found near the ancient city of Jericho (in modern-day Southern Turkey) and were sun-dried mud bricks. The Romans later pioneered mobile kilns to spread the use of fired bricks across Europe, a technology that was nearly lost when the Empire fell.
🏭 World's Largest Manufacturer
The world's largest producer of bricks is the Austrian company, Wienerberger AG. Founded in 1819, this massive multinational group operates over 200 production sites globally and is also a leading manufacturer of roof tiles. They became the world leader after acquiring General Shale in the United States in 1999.
🥇 Dominant Brick Type
By global volume, the most popular type remains the Clay Brick. They accounted for over **40%** of the global market share in recent years due to their durability, natural aesthetic appeal, fire resistance, and long-standing cost-effectiveness. However, concrete and fly ash bricks are rapidly gaining popularity for infrastructure and sustainability.