September has brought a perfect storm of factors for tile exporters: global renovation season meets restocking needs, while ocean freight from China to the Mediterranean and South America has fallen nearly 20 % from this year’s peak. A 20-foot container now costs less than USD 5,000, prompting overseas wholesalers to ramp up orders. As a result, inquiries for 600×1200 mm and 750×1500 mm slabs have risen 30 % month-on-month, and neutral tones like warm grey and cream white remain top picks. What’s new is the surge …
As the autumn renovation rush kicks in across the Northern Hemisphere, September customs figures show tile export volumes up 12 % month-on-month, driven by large-format slabs and soft-matte rustic tiles. Analysts cite four converging factors: freight rates have fallen for four straight weeks, overseas inventories are at multi-year lows, new housing starts in Europe and the US are rebounding, and the upcoming year-end retail restock is amplifying demand. Notably, 600 × 1200 mm and 750 × 1500 mm sizes have seen inqu…
As autumn renovation kicks off across the northern hemisphere, September’s first week saw double-digit growth in tile export volumes. Analysts attribute the surge to three drivers: rising housing starts in Europe and the U.S., which boosted demand for large slabs by 30 % year-on-year; falling freight rates—China-Mediterranean 20-foot container rates have dropped below USD 5,000 for three consecutive weeks; and depleted overseas inventories prompting wholesalers to restock aggressively. On the product side, the sta…