KUCHING: The United States of America (US) has more than tripled the imports of hardwood flooring from Malaysia in the January-October 2025 (10m2025) period.
In October, US shipment of the product from Malaysia surged by 29 per cent from a year ago, and after a dip in the previous month of September.
“After a strong summer, US imports of hardwood flooring retreated to a more normal level in autumn, falling 19 per cent in September 2025 but rising 6 per cent in October. At US$6.1 million (in value), October 2025 imports were 5 per cent higher than in October 2024.
“For the year (to October), imports from Malaysia are more than triple what they were in 2024 while imports from all other leading countries have fallen. For example, imports from Brazil were down 44 per cent up to October 2025 as imports fell to historically low levels in September and October. Total imports of hardwood flooring (by US) were down 4 per cent through October 2025 versus 2024,” according to International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) Tropical Timber Market Report (January 1-15, 2026).
In October, US imports of assembled flooring panels stumbled, falling 14 per cent after a two per cent gain in September.
The fall was mainly attributed to a nine per cent drop in shipments from top supplier, Canada, and a 29 per cent drop in imports from Indonesia.
In 10m2025, US imports of assembled flooring panels skipped by 10 per cent from 10m2024.
On sawn tropical hardwood, the ITTO report said US imports surged 25 per cent in October 2025 after holding steady in September at an already strong level.
At 19,152 cubic metres (cu m), this volume was 40 per cent higher than a year ago.
Again, this had greatly benefitted Malaysia as its exports to US nearly doubled in October.
US imports from top-trading partner, Brazil, surged by 50 per cent while shipments from Ecuador and Peru also made healthy gains.
As compared to October 2024, US total imports of sawn tropical hardwood jumped by five per cent.
On hardwood plywood, US imports cooled slightly and fell by two per cent in October after expanding by six per cent in September.
At 283,082 cu m, the October volume was up 34 per cent from a year ago.
“A 22 per cent decrease in imports from top-supplier Vietnam depressed October numbers as imports from nearly all other top-suppliers rose.
Imports from Russia recovered in October after a steep September decline.
Through October, imports of hardwood plywood continued to greatly outpace last year, rising 27 per cent versus 2024,” added the report.
In October, US imports of tropical hardwood veneer made a near complete recovery, rising 95 per cent to bounce back from a plunge of 64 per cent in September.
Imports from Cameroon, Italy and India, which all fell more than 90 per cent in September, all returned in October to levels closer to their average for the year,
While the month-to-month accounting has been volatile, US total imports of tropical hardwood veneer were up 14 per cent in 2025 through October versus the same period in 2024.
On hardwood mouldings, US import slumped more than 10 per cent for the second straight month in October, decreasing 12 per cent after a 13 per cent dip in September.
At US$13.1 million, imports for the month were 11 per cent lower than in October 2024.
Imports from Brazil fell 74 per cent in September and another 55 per cent in October to hit their lowest level in more than 10 years.
Despite the drop, total imports were up 13 per cent versus 2024 through October with year-to-date imports from nearly all of the leading trading partners up more than 20 per cent.
On wooden furniture, US imports continued to slump, falling for a third consecutive month in October 2025.
The four per cent decrease in October follows month-on-month drop of six per cent in both September and August.
“At US$1.44 billion, imports for October 2025 were 24 per cent below those of October 2024 and were below US$1.5 billion for the first time since March 2023.
“Imports from Mexico rose 1 per cent and imports from China rose 7 per cent while imports declined from nearly every other country.
Total imports of wooden furniture were down 7 per cent versus 2024 through October 2025,” said the report.
The Trump administration has delayed the increased tariff rates for upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets and vanities for a year to 2027.
The US was set to double its tariff rate on kitchen cabinets and vanities produced outside the country to 50 per cent starting January 1, 2026.
The import duty on upholstered furniture, including sofas and armchairs, was set to rise to 30 per cent from 25 per cent on the first day of 2026.
While it welcomed the news that US tariffs would not be raised, the Canadian Kitchen Association called for the existing 25 per cent tariffs to be removed entirely and for coordinated action by both governments to restore fair and balanced trade.
There is a real relief across the community of Canadian manufacturers and suppliers but relief is not resolution, association president Luke Elias said.
The association also called on the Canadian government to address the growing volume of imported kitchen cabinets entering Canada at below the market value, which it said, had increased by 20 per cent annually for the past five years.
