US Imported Rugs Flat in 2007

Slower Sales of Oriental Rugs and Carpets

© Daniel Workman

Aug 6, 2008
Oriental wool rug, krosseel@yahoo.com (morguefile 214177)
The slowing U.S. housing market has not yet had a major impact on the sales of imported rugs, carpets and other textile floor coverings.

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.

  1. Canada … US$662.4 million (65.4% of world total for US rugs exports)
  2. Mexico … $87 million (8.6%)
  3. United Kingdom … $28.2 million (2.8%)
  4. India … $15.5 million (1.5%)
  5. Japan … $14.9 million (1.5%)
  6. China … $14.5 million (1.4%)
  7. United Arab Emirates … $13.5 million (1.3%)
  8. Australia … $11.3 million (1.1%)
  9. Hong Kong … $11.1 million (1.1%)
  10. 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.

  1. Poland … US$1.5 million (up 265.2% from 2006, up 204.8% from 2003)
  2. South Korea … $10.9 million (up 80.1%, up 71.6%)
  3. United Arab Emirates $13.5 million (up 57.8%, up 150.7%)
  4. China … $14.5 million (up 51.8%, up 354.1%)
  5. Qatar … $2.6 million (up 37.4%, up 219%)
  6. Panama … $1.8 million (up 35.5%, up 118.2%)
  7. Germany … $7 million (up 35.3%, up 66.3%)
  8. Australia … $11.3 million (up 33.9%, up 237%)
  9. New Zealand … $2.9 million (up 27.4%, up 393.5%)
  10. 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.

  1. India … US$617.7 million (29.1% of world total for US rug imports)
  2. China … $373.9 million (17.6%)
  3. Canada … $163.6 million (7.7%)
  4. Belgium … $136.8 million (6.4%)
  5. Egypt … $108.4 million (5.1%)
  6. Pakistan … $105.9 million (5%)
  7. Turkey … $96.8 million (4.6%)
  8. Netherlands … $49 million (2.3%)
  9. Thailand … $27.5 million (1.3%)
  10. 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.

  1. United Kingdom … US$1.8 million (up 376.1% from 2006, up 133.4% from 2003)
  2. Portugal … $21.1 million (up 45.9%, up 96.6%)
  3. Mexico … $16.9 million (up 45.2%, up 28.4%)
  4. Japan … $3.3 million (up 40.7%, up 126.7%)
  5. Colombia … $1.6 million (up 38.3%, up 442.1%)
  6. Morocco … $1.5 million (up 31.9%, up 159.8%)
  7. Turkey … $96.8 million (up 19.7%, up 133.3%)
  8. South Africa … $5 million (up 18.8%, up 40.5%)
  9. Thailand … $27.5 million (up 12.9%, up 144%)
  10. 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.


The copyright of the article US Imported Rugs Flat in 2007 in International Trade Commodities is owned by Daniel Workman. Permission to republish US Imported Rugs Flat in 2007 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.


Oriental wool rug, krosseel@yahoo.com (morguefile 214177)
       


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