Floorcovering imports into the UK during 2023 showed a 9.3% decline compared to the previous year.
Wood flooring showed the sharpest decline, off 24% compared to 2022, with vinyl declining 9% and carpets down 6%, according to HMRC data compiled by The Furnishing Report.
Overall, £1.52 billion of floocoverings were imported into the UK in 2023.
The latest import figures for the month of December showed the large seasonal decline as the pressure came off for pre-Christmas installations with carpets down 22%, vinyl down 27% and wood imports falling 37%. In the carpet sector, the Netherlands and Belgium were the poor performers but Turkey saw its trade into the UK grow 20%.