The major tile importers in the U.S. and LATAM for European suppliers

In this new post, together with the xNova International platform, we will analyze import data from the last 12 months to identify the 8 key companies that are driving tile demand in the U.S. and LATAM, sorted by volume (tons). This list will not only help you prioritize potential customers, but also help you understand market trends and adjust your internationalization strategy.

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U.S. TILE IMPORTERS

1. SOHO STUDIO

• Location: Inwood, New York (NY)
• Imported volume: 31,269,893 kg.
• Main origin:
  • 57.65% Spain
  • 41.71% Italy

Remarks: Soho Studio, based in New York, is the largest importer of European ceramics in the U.S., with a slight preference for Spanish products.

2. BEDROSIANS TILE AND STONE

• Location: Fresno, California (CA)
• Volume imported: 23,637,552 kg.
• Main origin:
  • 67.27% Spain
  • 32.73% Italy

Remarks: Bedrosians, based in California, shows a clear preference for Spanish ceramics, which could indicate a demand for products balanced between quality and price in the West Coast market.

3. DAL TILE

• Location: Dallas, Texas (TX)
• Volume imported: 21,439,978 kg.
• Main origin:
  • 88.27% Italy
  • 7.33% Bulgaria

Remarks: Dal-Tile, a major U.S. distributor, is betting heavily on Italian ceramics. The smaller presence of Bulgaria indicates a possible diversification in search of more competitive costs.

4. HAPPY FLOORS

• Location: Miami, Florida (FL)
• Volume imported: 17,331,513 kg.
• Main origin:
  • 67.23% Italy
  • 30.76% Spain

Remarks: Happy Floors, located in Miami, has a strong bias toward Italian ceramics, which could reflect demand in the Florida luxury and design market.

5. CERAMIC TECHNICS

• Location: Alpharetta, Georgia (GA)
• Volume imported: 12,247,538 kg.
• Main origin:
  • 94.93% Italy
  • 4.87% Spain

Remarks: Ceramic Technics in Georgia has an almost exclusive reliance on Italian ceramics.

6. EMILAMERICA

• Location: Dulles, Virginia (VA)
• Volume imported: 10,637,284 kg.
• Primary origin:
  • 100% Italy

Remarks: EmilAmerica imports exclusively Italian ceramics, reinforcing Italy's position as a leader in premium products in the U.S. market.

7. CANCOS TILE AND STONE

• Location: Dulles, Virginia (VA)
• Volume imported: 10,233,960 kg.
• Main origin:
  • 79.59% Italy
  • 20.17% Spain

Observations: Cancos, also located in Virginia, follows the trend of preference for Italy, although with a significant share of Spain, which could indicate a diversification strategy.

8. EMSER TILE

• Location: Los Angeles, California (CA)
• Volume imported: 9,867,343 kg.
• Main origin:
  • 67.85% Italy
  • 27.95% Spain

Remarks: California-based Emser Tile maintains a balance between Italy and Spain, reflecting a strategy to cover different market segments.

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Conclusions and Key Trends

1. Italy dominates the premium segment, being the main origin for importers such as Dal-Tile, Ceramic Technics and EmilAmerica.
2. Spain is key in price-quality balance, standing out for companies such as Soho Studio and Bedrosians.
3. Geographic distribution:

• New York and New Jersey (Soho Studio, Porven): strong demand for Spanish ceramics.
• California and Florida (Bedrosians, Happy Floors, Emser Tile): mix of Italian and Spanish products.
• Texas and Georgia (Dal-Tile, Ceramic Technics): clear preference for Italy.

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Opportunities for European Suppliers

• Spanish manufacturers: Focus on distributors such as Bedrosians and Soho Studio highlighting price competitiveness and consistent quality.
• Italian manufacturers: Maintain their position in the premium segment, with emphasis on design and exclusivity for clients such as Dal-Tile and Ceramic Technics.
• Other countries (Bulgaria, etc.): Explore niches where importers are looking for diversification (e.g. Dal-Tile already imports 7% from Bulgaria).

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LATAM TILE IMPORTERS

The ceramic products market in Latin America (LATAM) maintains a strong link with Europe, especially with countries such as Italy and Spain, leaders in the production and export of high quality ceramics. In this report we will detail the main importers of ceramics in LATAM, analyzing their import volume and the predominant origin of their products.

1. COMERCIALIZADORA INTERCERAMIC

• Location: Mexico
• Volume imported: 10.320.768,1$
• Main origin:
  • 63.14% Italy
  • 36.86% Spain

Remarks: It stands out for its large volume of imports, where Italian products predominate, although it maintains an important supply line with Spanish manufacturers.

2. CENTRO CERAMICO LAS FLORES

• Location: Perú
• Volume imported: 6.672.070,43$
• Main origin:
  • 86.07% Spain
  • 13.93% Italy

Remarks: It has built its commercial offer around Spanish ceramics, which represents almost all of its imports, with minimal Italian presence.

3. COMERCIAL K

• Location: Chile
• Volume imported: 4.275.643,866$
• Main origin:
  • 56.38% Spain
  • 43.14% Italy

Remarks: Presents an interesting balance between Spanish and Italian products, showing how the Chilean market values equally the offer of both European countries.

4. BOSCH Y CIA

• Location: Uruguay
• Volume imported: 1.041.125,74$
• Main origin:
  • 59.06% Italy
  • 37.18% Spain

Remarks: Shows a clear preference for Italian products, although it significantly incorporates Spanish ceramics in its import mix.

5. SBG

• Location: Argentina
• Volume imported: 1.783.784,89$
• Main origin:
  • 95.11% Italy
  • 4.89% Spain

Remarks: It shows a clear preference for Italian ceramic products, which overwhelmingly dominate its import portfolio, with only a marginal niche for the Spanish offer in the Argentine market.

6. IMPORTADORA SILES MARTINEZ

• Location: Bolivia
• Volume imported: 294.801,39$
• Main origin:
  • 100% Italy

Remarks: Maintains an exclusive commercial relationship with Italian suppliers, reflecting a total specialization in ceramics of Italian origin for the Bolivian market.

7. CERAMICOLSA

• Location: Colombia
• Volume imported: 188.757,94$
• Main origin:
  • 100% Spain

Remarks: Has developed a commercial strategy focused solely on Spanish products, creating a specialized niche in Iberian ceramics for the Colombian market.

8. EUROROCA

• Location: Venezuela
• Volume imported: 603.225$
• Main origin:
  • 69.73% Spain
  • 30.27% Italy

Remarks: Its business model is mainly based on Spanish products, although it maintains a significant presence of Italian products.

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Conclusion

The analysis of the main importers of ceramics in LATAM shows the predominance of Italy and Spain as the largest suppliers in the sector, although with variations depending on the country.

• While companies such as SBG (Argentina) and Importadora Siles Martínez (Bolivia) depend almost exclusively on Italy, others such as Comercial K (Chile) and EuroRoca (Venezuela) show a more balanced distribution between the two European countries.
• Mexico and Peru stand out for their high import volumes, reflecting strong demand in their domestic markets.

These data not only highlight the trade preferences of each nation, but also the growth opportunities for European exporters in the region. Future studies could delve deeper into consumption trends and price competitiveness to optimize export strategies to LATAM.

Identifying the most relevant buyers is just the beginning. To compete in the U.S. and LATAM market, you will need to adapt your offer to their logistical, regulatory and design standards. If you have access to xNova International, we will not only provide you with data, but also strategic insights to make your internationalization process agile and based on market intelligence.

Did you already know any of these U.S. and LATAM importers?

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