US imports of hardwood flooring improved for the third straight month, rising by 14% in April, as ITTO reported.
Despite a prolonged slide in imports from China, overall imports are up 12% year to date with Malaysia, Brazil and Indonesia all gaining from China’s loss. Imports from China fell by 25% in April and are down 44% year to date.
Imports of assembled flooring panels also continued their steady rise, improving by 7% in April. Imports from China more than doubled in April to rebound from a dismal March but are still 33% behind 2018 year-to-date.
Imports from Brazil and Thailand, which have been gaining strongly from declining US/China trade, both fell sharply in April.
