The alchemy of dirt and fire is where art and industry join hands to make tiles. Iran has always been ahead of its time when it comes to ceramic and tile productions. Evidence of this is found in all its preserved historical structures. Traditional designs are enmeshed with modern aesthetics and translated into mass productions in Iran's tile industry. This is partly what drives the demand for Iranian decorative tiles, making Iran a top producer of tiles in the region. The domestic market is expanding mainly because of population growth and a rise in renovation and remodeling activities. Also, increased investments in the residential and commercial sectors has helped increase demand for these construction materials. Last year, Iran produced somewhere around 400 million square meters of tile worth nearly 450 million dollars. Also, just under 160 million square meters of tiles were exported to destination markets in four continents across the world.