Demand for decorative tile is forecast to increase 4.3 percent per year to four billion square feet in 2011. Demand is dominated by flooring applications, which accounted for nearly four-fifths of total tile demand in 2006, and which will continue to spur demand for decorative tile, as consumer preferences shift away from carpets and rugs. Gains will be particularly strong in nonresidential flooring applications, driven by an increased appreciation of the performance qualities of tile. In the residential market, growth will be driven by remodeling activity, as homeowners seek to replace old and worn floors with modern, aesthetically pleasing tile styles. These and other trends, including market share and company profiles, are presented in Decorative Tile, a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industry research firm.
Foreign trade plays a crucial role in the industry. In 2006, 81 percent of all tile sold in the
Demand for decorative tile in the nonresidential construction market will offer superior prospects for growth. Decorative tile can be installed in such structures as malls, airports, office buildings, retail outlets, and other municipal and commercial buildings, with uses including flooring, wall coverings, countertops and backsplashes, and other applications. Demand will also be promoted by continued spending on residential kitchen and bathroom renovation, the two areas of a home where decorative tile is most likely to be installed. Increases in the size of kitchens and bathrooms will also spur tile demand.
Porcelain will account for the strongest gains of any tile material through 2011, posting annual increases of 9.5 percent. Porcelain tile is more durable than ceramic tile, and it can be fired to resemble natural stone, making it popular in both residential and nonresidential applications. Growth will also be driven by increased use of porcelain tiles with through-body color properties. These tiles will draw increasing acceptance in the nonresidential market because if damaged, the tiles only need to be sanded, rather than replaced, greatly reducing costs. While ceramic tile will account for the vast majority of demand in flooring applications, porcelain tile will post the fastest growth rates through 2011.
The Freedonia Group is a leading international business research company, founded in 1985, that publishes more than 100 industry research studies annually. This industry analysis provides an unbiased outlook and a reliable assessment of an industry and includes product and market forecasts, industry trends, demand history, threats and opportunities, competitive strategies, market share determinations and company profiles.
