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BROOM, BRUSH & MOP
January 2009
September Import/Export Figures Show Mixed Results By Rick Mullen Broom, Brush & Mop Associate Editor U.S. government trade figures for the first nine months of 2008 indicate raw material imports were up in one of the two categories outlined in this issue of Broom, Brush & Mop, compared to the first nine months of 2007. For September 2008, raw material imports were also up in one the two categories outlined, compared to September 2007. Import totals for the first nine months of 2008 were down in four of the five finished goods categories outlined from the same time period in 2007. Also, in September 2008, four of the five categories outlined recorded decreases, compared to September 2007. RAW MATERIAL IMPORTS Hog Bristle The United States imported 41,229 kilograms of hog bristle in September 2008, down about 3 percent from 42,316 kilograms imported in September 2007. During the first nine months of 2008, 300,460 kilograms of hog bristle were imported, about a 24 percent decrease from 395,877 kilograms imported during the first nine months of 2007. The United States imported 298,860 kilograms of hog bristle from China during the first nine months of 2008. The average price per kilogram for September 2008 was $11.32, down about 11 percent from the average price per kilogram for September 2007 of $12.78. The average price per kilogram for the first nine months of 2008 was $16.06, up about 53 percent from the average price per kilogram of $10.52 for the first nine months of 2007. Broom And Mop Handles The import total of broom and mop handles during September 2008 was 2.6 million, up about 37 percent from 1.9 million broom and mop handles imported in September 2007. During the first nine months of 2008, 23.4 million broom and mop handles were imported, compared to 20 million for the first nine months of 2007, an increase of about 17 percent. During the first nine months of 2008, Brazil shipped 10.2 million handles to the United States. Meanwhile, Honduras shipped 5.6 million; Indonesia, 4.3 million; and China, 2 million. The average price per handle for September 2008 was 75 cents, up about 12 percent from 67 cents for September 2007. The average price for the first nine months of 2008 was 67 cents, an increase of about 6 percent over the average price recorded for the first nine months of 2007 of 63 cents. FINISHED GOODS IMPORTS Brooms Of Broom Corn Valued At Less Than 96 Cents Imports of brooms of broom corn valued at less than 96 cents per broom during September 2008 totaled 21,516, down about 63
percent from 58,464 brooms imported during September 2007. During the first nine months of 2008, 184,494 brooms were imported, a decrease of about 73 percent from 684,963 brooms imported during the first nine months of 2007. During the first nine months of 2008, Mexico exported 116,112 brooms to the United States, compared to 322,241 during the same time period in 2007. Also, China shipped 68,382 brooms during the first nine months of 2008, compared to 323,122 during the same time period in 2007. The average price per broom in September 2008 was 70 cents, down about 29 percent from 98 cents for September 2007. The average price per broom for the first nine months of 2008 was 73 cents, down about 6 percent from 78 cents for the first nine months of 2007. Brooms Of Broom Corn Valued At More Than 96 Cents The United States imported 748,102 brooms of broom corn valued at more than 96 cents per broom during September 2008, compared to 807,248 in September 2007, a decrease of about 7 percent. During the first nine months of 2008, 6.7 million brooms of broom corn were imported, down about 11 percent from 7.5 million imported during the first nine months of 2007. Mexico exported 5.9 million brooms to the United States during the first nine months of 2008, compared to 6.6 million during the same time period in 2007. The average price per broom for September 2008 was $2.30, down slightly from $2.33 for September 2007. The average price per broom for the first nine months of 2008 was $2.29, down slightly from $2.32 for the first nine months of 2007. Toothbrushes The United States imported 63.3 million toothbrushes in September 2008, down about 6 percent from 67.2 million imported in September 2007. During the first nine months of 2008, 598.1 million toothbrushes were imported, a decrease of about 6 percent from 639.2 million imported during the first nine months of 2007. China shipped 387.4 million toothbrushes to the United States during the first nine months of 2008. The average price per toothbrush for September 2008 was 26 cents, up about 18 percent from the average price for September 2007 of 22 cents. The average price for the first nine months of 2008 was 25 cents, up about 14 percent from the average price of 22 cents for the first nine months of 2007. Paint Rollers The import total of paint rollers during September 2008 was 4.1 million, down about 5 percent from 4.3 million paint rollers imported during September 2007. During the first nine months of 2008, 48.1 million paint rollers were imported, down about 12 percent from 54.7 million imported during the first nine months of 2007. The United States imported 35.4 million paint rollers from China during the first nine months of 2008.