US Imported Rugs Flat in 2007
Slower Sales of Oriental Rugs and Carpets
In 2007, the United States imported US$2.1 billion worth of rugs from the rest of the world. That statistic represents a 0.6% decline from 2006 but a 27.1% increase since 2003.
During the same period, America exported $1 billion in carpets – a 0.5% gain from last year and a 46.3% rise since 2003.
Canada and Mexico accounted for about 75% of American-exported rug sales last year.
Top Countries Receiving US Rug Exports
Below are the 10 countries that generated 85.8% of the total spent on imported rugs from the U.S. last year.
- Canada … US$662.4 million (65.4% of world total for US rugs exports)
- Mexico … $87 million (8.6%)
- United Kingdom … $28.2 million (2.8%)
- India … $15.5 million (1.5%)
- Japan … $14.9 million (1.5%)
- China … $14.5 million (1.4%)
- United Arab Emirates … $13.5 million (1.3%)
- Australia … $11.3 million (1.1%)
- Hong Kong … $11.1 million (1.1%)
- Singapore … $11 million (1.1%).
Biggest Sales Percentage Increases by Rug Importing Country
The following countries consumed at least US$1 million in American carpet exports during 2007, ranked by the percentage increase from the prior year.
- Poland … US$1.5 million (up 265.2% from 2006, up 204.8% from 2003)
- South Korea … $10.9 million (up 80.1%, up 71.6%)
- United Arab Emirates $13.5 million (up 57.8%, up 150.7%)
- China … $14.5 million (up 51.8%, up 354.1%)
- Qatar … $2.6 million (up 37.4%, up 219%)
- Panama … $1.8 million (up 35.5%, up 118.2%)
- Germany … $7 million (up 35.3%, up 66.3%)
- Australia … $11.3 million (up 33.9%, up 237%)
- New Zealand … $2.9 million (up 27.4%, up 393.5%)
- Brazil … $9.1 million (up 25.7%, up 105.1%).
Top Countries Providing US Rug Imports
America bought about half of its imported rugs from India and China last year.
- India … US$617.7 million (29.1% of world total for US rug imports)
- China … $373.9 million (17.6%)
- Canada … $163.6 million (7.7%)
- Belgium … $136.8 million (6.4%)
- Egypt … $108.4 million (5.1%)
- Pakistan … $105.9 million (5%)
- Turkey … $96.8 million (4.6%)
- Netherlands … $49 million (2.3%)
- Thailand … $27.5 million (1.3%)
- South Korea … $25.2 million (1.2%).
Increase or Decrease Percentages by Rug Exporting Country
Among exporters of floor coverings to America, the United Kingdom led with the highest percentage sales gains in 2007.
- United Kingdom … US$1.8 million (up 376.1% from 2006, up 133.4% from 2003)
- Portugal … $21.1 million (up 45.9%, up 96.6%)
- Mexico … $16.9 million (up 45.2%, up 28.4%)
- Japan … $3.3 million (up 40.7%, up 126.7%)
- Colombia … $1.6 million (up 38.3%, up 442.1%)
- Morocco … $1.5 million (up 31.9%, up 159.8%)
- Turkey … $96.8 million (up 19.7%, up 133.3%)
- South Africa … $5 million (up 18.8%, up 40.5%)
- Thailand … $27.5 million (up 12.9%, up 144%)
- Spain … $18.3 million (up 9.3%, up 19.5%).
References
This article presents independent calculations and insights based on data drawn from the U.S. Census Bureau – Foreign Trade Statistics.
