USA: ceramic tile market expanding

Mar 16, 2004

16/03/04 - The United States is the largest export market in the world and the only one that is growing at a steady pace and generating large sales quantities. The estimated 265.5 million sq.m consumption of tiles in 2003 is five times higher than the corresponding figure for 1980 and about double that of 1996.

Ceramic tiles account for 11.6% of floor covering sales in the United States and continue to win share from soft surfaces (carpet) and vinyl. However, this boom in consumption has not been accompanied by growth in domestic manufacturers’ sales, which for 2003 are estimated at 55.5 million sq.m, more or less level with those of the 1990s. Imports however continue to grow.

According to US Department of Commerce figures, in the first 11 months of 2003, total imports rose by 10.3% to a new record of 190.8 million square metres. The four largest exporter countries continue to account for 77.7% of total imports. In particular, Italy has increased by 8.5% to 65.3 million sq.m, Brazil by 24.6% to 25.3 million sq.m, while Mexico has remained more or less stationary at 25.2 million sq.m (+1.5%). Only Spain has shown a 2.5% fall in exports to 32.6 million sq.m.

The other international competitors trail at a considerable distance, so even high percentage growths correspond in absolute terms to just a few million square metres. Good results have been achieved by Turkey, which holds 4.8% of the total market (37.8% up on 2002), Indonesia (24.4% up to reach 8.8 million sq.m) and Thailand (8.5% up on 2002 to reach a 2.7% share of the market with 5.1 million sq.m).

Particularly sharp growth has been shown by China (90.5% up on 2002) although it accounts for only 2.5% of imported quantities, or 4.8 million sq.m.