TILE COUNCIL OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

100 Clemson Research Boulevard . Anderson, South Carolina 29625 . Phone: 864-646-8453 . Fax: 864-646-2821

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                                             Contact: Andrew Whitmire

July 8, 2021                                                                                            T: 864-646-8453 ext. 102

1Q 2021 U.S. Ceramic Tile Market Update

U.S. Tile Consumption Overview:

While last year was extremely difficult for the U.S. ceramic tile market, which was negatively impacted by the COVID-19 health crisis and declined for the second consecutive year, 2021 is off to an excellent start.

Through 1Q 2021, total U.S. ceramic tile consumption was up 17.8% by volume vs. 1Q 2020.¹ If the current pace continues for the full year, U.S. consumption would reach a record-high of 3.34 billion sq. ft.

The following table shows U.S. tile shipments, imports, exports, and total consumption in thousands of sq. ft.

Year	U.S. Shipments (incl. Exports)	Imports	Exports	Total Consumption*	% Change in Consumption vs. Previous Year
1Q 2021	225,283	532,542	9,772	748,054	17.8**
2020	902,290	1,966,443	31,009	2,837,724	-3.5
2019	895,332	2,077,038	31,782	2,940,588	-5.4
2018	940,300	2,196,935	29,746	3,107,489	1.5
2017	990,972	2,099,307	28,492	3,061,787	5.7

*Note: U.S. Shipments + Imports – Exports

**Note: Change vs. 1Q 2020

¹ U.S. Dept. of Commerce & Tile Council of North America

The chart below shows total U.S. consumption of ceramic tile (in sq. ft.) over the last several years and an estimated total for 2021 based on the current pace of consumption.

Imports:

In 1Q 2021, the U.S. imported 532.5 million sq. ft. of ceramic tile, up 26.0% from 1Q 2020.²

Imports made up 71.2% of U.S. tile consumption by volume in 1Q 2021, up from 69.3% the previous year.

² U.S. Dept. of Commerce

 

Spain, having replaced China last year as the largest exporter to the U.S. by volume, retained the top position in 1Q 2021 with a 20.0% share of U.S. imports, a slight decrease from its 20.7% share last year.

Mexico was the second largest exporter to the U.S. by volume, comprising 18.1% of imports through 1Q, its highest share since 2017.

Italy was in the third position with a 14.0% share of imports, down from 16.6% last year, and its lowest level on record.³

The five countries from which the most tiles were imported in 1Q 2021, based on volume, were:

 

Country	Sq. Ft. 1Q 2021	Sq. Ft. 1Q 2020	% Change
Spain	106,436,560	79,400,653	34.0%
Mexico	96,285,536	82,024,151	17.4%
Italy	74,607,903	77,265,459	-3.4%
Turkey	69,867,509	57,201,853	22.1%
India	67,721,584	36,016,905	88.0%
All Countries	532,542,412	422,565,010	26.0%

³ U.S. Dept. of Commerce

However, on a dollar basis (CIF + duty) Italy remained the largest exporter to the U.S. in 1Q 2021, comprising 27.4% of U.S. imports, followed by Spain (23.1%) and Mexico (11.6%).

The five countries from which the most tiles were imported based on total U.S. $ value (CIF + duty) in 1Q 2021 were:

 

Country	$ Val 1Q 2021	$ Val 1Q 2020	% Change
Italy	147,641,671	152,198,727	-3.0%
Spain	124,423,504	96,381,813	29.1%
Mexico	62,536,154	57,562,515	8.6%
Turkey	51,095,685	42,716,106	19.6%
India	49,065,717	24,661,867	99.0%
All Countries	538,123,676	448,225,602	20.1%

The average values of tile⁴ (including CIF + duty) from the five countries from which the most tiles were imported by volume in 1Q 2021 were:

 

Country	Sq. Ft. 1Q 2021	$ Val 1Q 2021	Val/Sq. Ft. 1Q 2021	Val/Sq. Ft. 1Q 2020
Spain	106,436,560	124,423,504	$1.17	$1.21
Mexico	96,285,536	62,536,154	$0.65	$0.70
Italy	74,607,903	147,641,671	$1.98	$1.97
Turkey	69,867,509	51,095,685	$0.73	$0.75
India	67,721,584	49,065,717	$0.72	$0.68
All Countries	532,542,412	538,123,676	$1.01	$1.06

U.S. Shipments:

 U.S. shipments (less exports) in 1Q 2021 were 215.5 million sq. ft., up 1.5% vs. 1Q 2020.

Representing 28.8% of all tile consumed in the U.S. by volume, domestically-produced tile remained far ahead of all individual countries exporting tile to the U.S. In fact, domestically- made tile’s market share was more than double that of Spain’s, the largest exporter to the U.S., which comprised 14.2% of all tile consumed in the U.S. by volume.

In dollar value, 1Q 2021 U.S. FOB factory sales of domestic shipments were $326.1 million, up 1.3% vs. 1Q 2020. Domestically-produced tile made up 37.7% of total U.S. consumption by dollar value.

The $ value/sq. ft. of domestic shipments in 1Q 2021 was $1.51, down from $1.52 in 1Q 2020.⁵

U.S. Exports:

 U.S. ceramic tile exports in 1Q 2021 were 9.8 million sq. ft., up 11.4% vs. 1Q 2020.

The vast majority of U.S. exports in sq. ft. went to our North American neighbors, Canada (69.9%) and Mexico (16.3%).⁶

⁴ The average value is significantly affected by the mix of tiles imported, with different types of tiles impacting the average value, in addition to differences in pricing for the same types of tile.

⁵ Tile Council of North America

⁶ U.S. Dept. of Commerce

Housing Market Highlights:

 New Home Starts

As of May 2021, total new home starts were at a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 1,572,000 units, a 3.6% increase from the previous month and a 50.3% increase from May 2020.

Total new home starts are on pace to increase for the twelfth consecutive year and be at their highest point since 2006.⁷

⁷ U.S. Census Bureau

 

New Single Family Home Sales

New single family home sales are on pace to increase for the tenth year in a row and reach their highest level since 2006.

As of May 2021, new single family home sales were at a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 769,000 units, a 5.9% decrease from the previous month but a 9.2% increase from May 2020.⁸

⁸ U.S. Census Bureau

### [PDF Report] Contact: Andrew Whitmire T: 864-646-8453 ext. 102

About Tile Council of North America (TCNA)

TCNA is a trade association representing manufacturers of ceramic tile, tile installation materials, tile equipment, raw materials and other tile-related products. Established in 1945 as the Tile Council of America (TCA), it became the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) in 2003, reflecting its membership expansion to all of North America.

The Tile Council is recognized for its leadership role in facilitating the development of North American and international industry quality standards to benefit tile consumers. Additionally, TCNA regularly conducts independent research and product testing, works with regulatory, trade, and other government agencies, and publishes installation guidelines, tile standards, economic reports, and promotional literature.