USA

A new report from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) reveals the immediate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on architecture firms in the U.S.

Founded in 2019, 2IG CORP is based in Cookeville (TN) and is the exclusive distributor for Tecno Diamant, Bi Tecnology and Cosmac.

Total new home starts grew by 3.2%, while new single-family home sales were at their highest level in twelve years: +10.3%.

In 2019, U.S. ceramic tile consumption declined for the first time in a decade to 273.2 million sq.m. (-5,4% on 2018). This affected both the domestic production (83 million sq,m, -4.8%) and imports (193 million sq.m, -5.5%), with China dropping by 36.4%.

With the adoption of countervailing and antidumping duties on Chinese tile imports in the US, the race is on for both US tile manufacturers and all the other supplying countries to win a slice of the 64.3 million sq.m of Chinese products.

The US tile producer will install the new automatic lubrication system on kilns and dryers on the new production line started up in Lebanon, Tennessee.

Florim USA and StonePeak choose BMR technology for their plants in Tennessee.

US ceramic tile companies filed a petition with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission to impose antidumping duties on Chinese imports.

Colorobbia USA, Inc. will be opening a 5,000 square metre warehouse in the US tile valley in June.

The Mexican Group’s CEO confirms good progress last year, as well as a growing interest of the US customers for Vitromex USA’s ceramic tile range.

According to Victor D. Almeida (Chairman & CEO of the Mexican Group) the US market should offer good opportunities for growth in 2019 and over the coming years.

The company, which started its facility in Lebanon (TN) just 2 years ago, is installing new lines for the production of porcelain tiles.

Coverings 2019 will be the venue for the US market launch of the social media and web campaign entitled “The values of ceramic”.

Despite the moderate contraction in sales, in 2018 Del Conca USA invested in the expansion of the range with new technical products aimed at the commercial construction sector.

With an investment of almost $70 million, StonePeak (Crossville) started up the production of 300x150 cm porcelain slabs with various thicknesses.

The Italian group (in the USA with Florida Tile) is confident that their US Business Unit will see moderate growth this year after a disappointing 2018.

From April 9 to 12 BMR will take part at Coverings with its latest technologies for the finishing process of ceramic tiles.

Mohawk Group has launched the new Panoramic Porcelain Slabs, and started a new plant in Tennessee for the production of Quartz Slabs.

According to TCNA forecasts, in 2019 overall sales of US ceramic tiles will be flat or experience low, single-digit growth.

Acimac is leading a group of Italian companies showcasing the latest ceramic industry technologies at Coverings.