September 16, 2008
News Release 08-092
Inv. No. 332-487
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

China Now a Major Global Competitor

The U.S. wood flooring and hardwood plywood industries have faced increasing competition from imports in recent years, particularly from China, which has become its most significant competitor, reports the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) in its study Wood Flooring and Hardwood Plywood: Competitive Conditions Affecting the U.S. Industries.

While the value of U.S. production, consumption, and trade of wood flooring and hardwood plywood increased significantly over the period studied (2002-2007), the value of U.S. imports of these products doubled during the same period, and the imports' share of the U.S. markets rose from about one-third to one-half, according to the report.

The ITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, completed the report at the request of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance. The ITC analyzed the U.S. wood flooring and hardwood plywood industries, providing an overview of the U.S. markets, a description of the U.S. industries and those of principal supplier countries, and an examination of trade patterns and the factors affecting the competitive position of U.S. producers. Highlights of the report follow.

• U.S. wood flooring consumption grew rapidly over the period studied, driven by strong demand from residential construction and remodeling and rising consumer preference for wood flooring relative to other types of flooring. Increased demand for hardwood plywood in some end uses (e.g., cabinetry and fixtures) was partially offset by weak demand in others (e.g., furniture). With the housing slowdown, which began in 2006, consumption of both products declined in 2007.
• U.S. imports increased faster than U.S. production as shifting preferences for prefinished flooring, exotic species, and engineered wood flooring benefitted imports more than domestic production.
• Combined global trade of wood flooring and hardwood plywood increased by 80 percent with the United States and the top foreign suppliers (Brazil, Canada, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Russia) accounting for more than three-fourths of global exports.
• The declining U.S. dollar had uneven effects on the currencies of the major foreign suppliers to the U.S. market, with Malaysia and China having a definite advantage over other countries.
• Illegal logging contributed to increased production and consumption of these products. Major exporters have implemented measures designed to conserve and/or retain forest resources for their domestic producers, and major markets (e.g., the United States, the European Union, and Japan) have either implemented or are developing policies to address illegal logging.

Wood Flooring and Hardwood Plywood: Competitive Conditions Affecting the U.S. Industries (Investigation No. 332-487, USITC Publication 4032, August 2008) will be available on the ITC's Internet site at http://hotdocs.usitc.gov/docs/pubs/332/pub4032.pdf. A CD-ROM of the report may be requested by e-mailing pubrequest@usitc.gov, calling 202-205-2000, or contacting the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be faxed to 202-205-2104.

ITC general factfinding investigations, such as this one, cover matters related to tariffs or trade and are generally conducted at the request of the U.S. Trade Representative, the Senate Committee on Finance, or the House Committee on Ways and Means. The resulting reports convey the Commission's objective findings and independent analyses on the subjects investigated. The Commission makes no recommendations on policy or other matters in its general factfinding reports. Upon completion of each investigation, the ITC submits its findings and analyses to the requester. General factfinding investigation reports are subsequently released to the public unless they are classified by the requester for national security reasons.