Articles

According to Nomdedeu, Spain continues to export its tiles to more than 180 countries around the world, with the USA accounting for 22.9 percent of its exports. Europe, Asia and the Middle East are the three next largest geographic areas. Spain also produced 567 million square meters of tile increasing production 20.3 percent from the previous year, making it the top EU producer, Nomdedeu said. Read More

A memorandum of understanding was signed today in Munich, Germany between Confindustria Ceramica, the Italian association of ceramic manufacturers, and BKRI, the German association of producers of raw materials for ceramics and industrial minerals (Bundesverband Keramische Rohstoffe und Industrieminerale). Read More

Mohawk Industries has announced the acquisition of Vitromex, Mexico’s third largest tile producer, from Grupo Industrial Saltillo for approximately $293 million in cash. Read More

Due to a decrease in non-residential spending, some commercial markets experienced a considerable dip during the pandemic (corporate, for example, as many more people worked from home). But activity is returning, and several markets are doing quite well — particularly, healthcare and education — resulting in new innovations around high-performing hard and soft surface products, or hybrid alternatives, to meet the need for mixed-use spaces and added flexibility. Read More

In the months January to April 2022, U.S. ceramic tile imports were down 7.0% in square meters year over year, from 66.5 million square meter to 61.9 million square meter, according to Grosser Consulting. While imports in quantity were down in this period, values were up. Read More

Mohawk Industries, Inc. announced today that it has entered into an agreement to purchase the Vitromex ceramic tile business from Grupo Industrial Saltillo (GIS) for approximately $293 million in cash. Read More

The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) released its Kitchen & Bath Market Index (KBMI) for Q1 of 2022. The quarterly report, which is aimed at measuring the health of the kitchen and bath industry, found that the industry enjoyed a successful opening quarter of the year, growing 12.6% in Q1, with industry professionals expecting further growth as the year continues. Read More

One of the largest problems is the rapidly aging demographics facing developed economies. For an economy to grow, there must be a balance of consumers and producers. This balance necessitates a growing population that skews to the younger end of the spectrum. An aging populace creates a lack of producers and tends to grind down growth as workers retire and begin pulling money and other resources from the economy. Read More

The last five years saw some of the most cataclysmic changes in society and the economy since the Great Recession. And the last two years were even more tumultuous. Between the global pandemic, an ominous war abroad and major swings in consumer mood and sentiment, it’s hard to pick what the most significant event is. Indeed, there’s a meme going around that says, “When they said history repeats itself, I wasn’t expecting all of the 20th Century in the last two years.” Read More

The Home Depot reported net sales of $38.9 billion for Q1 2022, an increase of 3.8% from Q1 2021’s $37.5 billion. Read More