U.S. Ceramic-Tile Use Down in 2023

ANDERSON, S.C. – Ceramic-tile use in the United States during 2023 dropped 7.3% from the previous year, according to a market update released today from the Tile Council of North America (TCNA).

The 2.84 billion ft² of domestic consumption marks the biggest year-over-year decline in five years, and the lowest annual amount of U.S. ceramic-tile use since the pandemic-impacted 2020. In 2021 and 2022, annual U.S. tile use topped 3 billion ft².

U.S. ceramic-tile imports totaled 2 billion ft² last year, down 8.4% from 2022. India dominated U.S. imports in 2024, with its 404.9 million ft² showing a year-over-year increase of 42% and accounting for 20.3% of all tile imports. India was the only one of the five top exporting countries to the United States to show any increase in shipments to this country.

The TCNA announced late last week that a group of U.S.-incorporated producers would file unfair-trade claims against India and seek protective tariffs on that country’s ceramic tile exports to the United States.

Italy recorded the highest for ceramic-tile exports to the United States last year at $722 million in off-the-dock value (cost, insurance, freight and duties), an 18.7% decline from 2022. India’s import value increased by 5% to $258.8 million.

Italy also led the top five ceramic-tile-importing countries in value-per-square foot, averaging $2.41 and followed by Spain ($1.89), Brazil and Mexico (both 87¢), and India (64¢).