Carpet and Rug Industry Statistics 1950 - 2005
The major fiber used in carpet is nylon, which represents nearly 2/3 of the market. Polypropylene, polyester, wool, and some acrylic and cotton fiber are also used to produce carpet.
- In 1950 industry shipments were 97 million square yards (8.730 billion square feet). By 1998 the figure had increased to 16.497 billion square feet) or $10.85 billion at mill level. In the year 2005 the industry reported a modest but steady increase of 2.057 billion square yards (18.5 billion square feet) or $13.9 billion at the mill level.
- Market Share 1998 and 2005
- Nylon 59.4% / 62.3%
- Olefin 33.4% / 31.5%
- Polyester 6.8% / 5.8%
- Wool .4% / .4%
RBI International Carpet Consultants semiannual “comprehensive resource of carpet styles,” This semi annual report list new introductions. (1998)
Nylon 60% of residential and 74% of commercial introductions.
Olefin 21% of all new styles.
Olefin/nylon blends 8% of all new styles.
52% of residential carpets cut pile
50% on new residential is solid colors.
Majority of new commercial styles is loop pile.
33% of new commercial have definite patterns
26% of new commercial have random multi-color patterns.
18% of new commercial is heather or tweed
