(Clemson, SC)— U.S. ceramic tile consumption in 2023 was 2.85 billion sq. ft., down 7.3% from the previous year.1
The following table shows U.S. tile shipments, imports, exports, and total consumption in thousands of sq. ft.
Imports2
U.S. ceramic tile imports were at 2.00 billion sq. ft. in 2023, an 8.4% decline from the prior year.
Imports comprised 70.2% of 2023 U.S. tile consumption by volume, down from 71.1% in 2022.
India was the largest exporter by volume to the U.S. with a 20.3% share of U.S. imports, followed by Spain (17.4%) and Mexico (16.7%).
The five countries from which the most tiles were imported in 2023 based on volume were:
Italy remained the largest exporter to the U.S. on a dollar basis (CIF + duty), making up 28.2% of 2023 U.S. imports, followed by Spain with a 25.7% share and Mexico with an 11.3% share.
The five countries from which the most tiles were imported in 2023 based on total U.S. $ value (CIF + duty) were:
The average values of tile3 (including CIF + duty) from the five countries from which the most tiles were imported by volume in 2023 were:
U.S. Shipments4
U.S. shipments (less exports) were 847.3 million sq. ft. in 2023, down 4.7% from the previous year.
By volume, U.S. shipments’ share of total U.S. consumption in 2023 was 29.8%, up from 28.9% the preceding year. Domestically produced tiles’ share of total U.S. consumption remained higher than the shares of any individual country exporting to the U.S.; the next highest shares of total consumption by volume belonged to India (14.2%), Spain (12.2%), and Mexico (11.8%).
U.S. FOB factory sales of domestic shipments (less exports) in 2023 were $1.50 billion, a 1.7% increase from the prior year. U.S. shipments comprised 36.9% of total U.S. tile consumption by value, up from 33.4% in 2022.
The per unit value of domestic shipments (less exports) in 2023 was $1.77/sq. ft., up from $1.66/sq. ft. in 2022.
U.S. Exports5
U.S. ceramic tile exports in 2023 were 51.0 million sq. ft., up 0.5% from the previous year and the highest total on record. The vast majority of these exports went to Canada (65.8%) and Mexico (19.7%).
U.S. exports by value in 2023 were $53.3 million, up 1.4% from 2022.
About Tile Council of North America (TCNA)
TCNA is a trade association representing manufacturers of ceramic tile, tile installation materials, tile equipment, raw materials and other tile-related products. Established in 1945 as the Tile Council of America (TCA), it became the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) in 2005, reflecting its membership expansion to all of North America.
The Tile Council is recognized for its leadership role in facilitating the development of North American and international industry quality standards to benefit tile consumers. Additionally, TCNA regularly conducts independent research and product testing, works with regulatory, trade, and other government agencies, and publishes installation guidelines, tile standards, economic reports, and promotional literature.
