USA

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.

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

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

While carpet and hardwood are suffering a decrease of their market share, the US floor covering market experiences the strong advance of LVT.

US tile consumption grew just 1.2% in 2018 to about 288 million sq.m. Domestic sales of US tile dropped to 84 million sq.m, while imports rose to 205 million sq.m (+5%), mainly from China, Spain and Brazil.

New home starts in the U.S. achieved 1.26 million units in 2018, but 2019 will be flat after nine consecutive years of growth.

With this operation, the Austrian group has broadened its market footprint in the important US market and in Canada

Joseph Lundgren Consulting analyses the signs of a possible deceleration of growth of the housing market.

The US division of the Chinese group Marco Polo is investing in advanced automation for new porcelain tile products and sizes.

The US ceramic tile demand reached 283 million sq.m in 2017, the highest value since 2006, boosting both the domestic production and imports.

New home starts increased for the eighth year in a row, achieving 1.20 million units, the highest yearly level in a decade.

One year since starting up in the US, GMM USA is planning to double its warehouse capacity.

As of 2018, Villeroy & Boch will cease collaborating with TOTO and shift to direct distribution in North America. The group is planning to invest US $20 million in its Mexican factory.

The range of glazing technologies has been expanded through collaboration with Errevi Elettric, Tecnocer Italia and Automec Services.

New Inter Ser USA branch sees outstanding performance while sales in Mexico grow by 20%.

Recent orders include those to Kale Group, Cooperativa Ceramica d’Imola, Villeroy & Boch and Crossville.

The new and larger branch will also host the reconditioning workshop for squaring spindles and honing heads.

Mohawk Industries’s record figures for 2016 results includes sales of $9.0 billion, operating income of $1.3 billion and EBITDA of $1.7 billion. Q1 2017 showed a further growth, with net sales up 2%.

Strengthened by steady growth in the housing and construction markets, the U.S. economy continued to expand in 2016, helping lift the U.S. ceramic tile market to a seventh straight year of growth.