Carpet imports to the UK showed modest growth in December 2024, increasing by 0.3% to £54 million compared to the previous year. However, this growth was slow in comparison to vinyl imports, which rose by 33% to £31.9 million, continuing an upward trend for the past seven months after a weak start to the year.
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While the top three source markets for carpets — Turkey, Belgium, and the Netherlands — saw declines, imports from India and China grew significantly, with Indian shipments rising by 29% and Chinese imports increasing by 40%. This shift contributed to the overall rise in carpet imports despite lower activity from traditional suppliers.
Additionally, wood parquet flooring imports continued their upward trajectory, contributing to a total flooring import value of £97.3 million in December, marking an 11% year-on-year increase. The provisional full-year data shows a 6.8% decline in carpet imports for 2024 compared to the previous year, while vinyl and parquet flooring trends remained positive.
These figures highlight changing import patterns within the UK flooring market, with vinyl and wood flooring gaining momentum, while carpet imports face a slight decline.
Source: www.thefurnishingreport.com