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THE LIST

COMING AND GOING
U.S. imports and exports of window coverings.

It’s a world economy and a world market these days, and the window coverings industry is no exception.

According to Business Trend Analysts’ The 2004/2005 Outlook for the U.S. Window Coverings Market, the value of U.S. imports and exports of window coverings has been growing, but imports have been growing at a much faster rate. For 2005, imports are estimated to grow to $1.08 billion dollars.

China, clearly, is the No. 1 source for products imported into the United States. In terms of products, drapery hardware, blinds and shades make up the bulk of imports—59.4 percent of total U.S. imports of window coverings, or $615.5 million, regardless of point of origin.

In 2002, the last year for which figures are available, Mexico uniquely ranks in the top five of both categories. Business Trend Analysts (BTA), a Commack, NY-based research group, says exports to Mexico have been on a downward trend for several years as U.S.-based companies established their own manufacturing facilities there, yet our neighbors to the south remain the No. 2 destination. Exports to Japan have been rising, BTA says, because of U.S. efforts to get Japan to lower trade barriers. Exports of U.S. window coverings to Japan are expected to rise slowly over the next few years.