Market Size

CARPET imports rose at their fastest pace so far this year in August, as higher prices brought about by the weakness of sterling failed to unstitch demand.

Shipments totalled £52.7 million during the month, a rise of 14 percent on August 2015, according to HMRC’s latest dataset compiled by The Furnishing Report.

Woven carpet imports were up 16 percent to £9.2 million, with tufted carpet rising 14 percent to £43.5 million, bringing the year-to-date rise to 5.6 percent to £75.2 million for woven carpet and 4.7 percent to £363.2 million for tufted.

August saw Dutch carpet shipments rise 11 percent to £15.3 million with Belgian goods up 6.3 percent to £16.1 million. Chinese made carpets were up 11 percent to £3.8 million and Indian-made items up 6.4 percent to £4.2 million.