[Anderson, S.C.] The Tile Council of North America (TCNA) has released the 2018 U.S. Ceramic Tile Market Update.

Total U.S. ceramic tile consumption for 2018 was 3.11 billion sq. ft., up 1.5 percent vs. 2017, according to the U.S. Dept. of Commerce & Tile Council of North America.

Imports:
In 2018 the U.S. imported 2.20 billion sq. ft. of ceramic tile, up 4.7 percent from 2017 (2.10 billion sq. ft.), according to the U.S. Dept. of Commerce.

Imports comprised 70.7 percent of 2018 U.S. tile consumption in sq. ft., up from 68.6 percent in 2017.

According to the Market Update, China remained the largest exporter of ceramic tile to the U.S. (in sq. ft.), a position it has held each year since 2015. Chinese imports made up 31.5 percent of U.S. imports (in sq. ft.) in 2018, the highest annual percentage China has ever held of the U.S. import market. The 10 percent tariff increase on Chinese ceramic tile imports imposed by the Trump administration took effect at the end of Sept., but it is unlikely this will have any meaningful impact on China’s market position, the Market Update explained.

Despite the peso’s significant decline vs. the U.S. dollar over the last five years, losing nearly half of its value, Mexican ceramic tile exports to the U.S. have fallen each year since 2015. In 2018 tile from Mexico comprised 17.3 percent of U.S. imports (in sq. ft.), their lowest share since 2006, the Market Update explained.

Italy was the third largest exporter of tile to the U.S. in 2018, making up 16.4 percent of U.S. imports (in sq. ft.), down from 18.1 percent in 2017. The next largest exporters to the U.S. were Spain (14.1 percent import share) and Brazil (7.3 percent), according to the U.S. Dept. of Commerce.

According to the Market Update, on a dollar basis (CIF + duty) Italy remained the largest exporter to the U.S. in 2018, comprising 30.9 percent of U.S. imports. China was second with a 27.3 percent share, and Spain was third with a 15.6 percent share.

U.S. Shipments:
U.S. shipments (less exports) in 2018 were 911 million sq. ft., down 5.4 percent from 2017. This marks the first year-over-year decline in domestic shipments since 2009.

In 2018 domestically-produced tile accounted for 29.3 percent of all U.S. tile consumption in sq. ft., followed by China (22.3 percent), Mexico (12.2 percent) and Italy (11.6 percent).

In dollar value 2018 U.S. FOB factory sales of domestic shipments were $1.39 billion, down 4.4 percent vs. 2017 ($1.45 billion). Domestically-produced tile comprised 37.7 percent of total U.S. tile consumption by dollar value.

The per unit value of domestic shipments increased from $1.51 sq. ft. in 2017 to $1.53 sq. ft. in 2018, according to the Tile Council of North America.

Exports:
U.S. ceramic tile exports in 2018 were 29.7 million sq. ft., up 4.4 percent vs. 2017. The lion’s share of these exports were to our North American neighbors, Canada (79.6 percent) and Mexico (4.5 percent), according to the U.S. Dept. of Commerce.