SUMMARY OF MAJOR FINDINGS
The $15 billion (manufacturers’ dollars) U.S. door industry is currently being adversely affected by sharp declines in new home construction and existing home resales. The impact has been felt the most in the builder market, while residential replacement sales have declined at a more moderate rate. Wood door manufacturers felt the brunt of the decline due to their heavy dependence on residential markets. On the other hand, metal door manufacturers are benefiting from the above average reliance on residential markets, which have seen sharp gains over the past two years. In either case, the U.S. door industry has consolidated over the past decade and improved plant productivity in order to boost profit margins. This process is expected to continue as manufacturers seek ways to cut costs until the market begins to recover in 2009.
DOOR INDUSTRY TRENDS
Catalina Research uncovered these trends in our in-depth 227-page report on the U.S. door industry. U.S. shipments, exports, imports, and price trends are evaluated for wood, steel, aluminum, and fiberglass doors. Steel and aluminum door shipments are further segmented for industrial, residential, and commercial and institutional markets. In addition, metal door shipments are provided by door type, such as overhead, sliding, swing, entry, and garage doors. Shipments for shower doors and storm doors are also provided. Wood door shipments are broken out for panel, hollow- and solid-core flush, molded face, patio, garage, bi-fold, cabinet, and other doors. Metal and wood door shipments are provided in units and dollars. Import data is included in order to evaluate the growing importance of foreign-sourced doors. Import data is provided for steel, aluminum, wood, and plastic doors. Import data is also provided for major countries of origin. Similar data is available for export shipments. In addition, Catalina analyzed world markets, including trends in the Chinese market.
END- USE MARKETS AND DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS
Shipment data is segmented for residential and nonresidential markets. Residential and nonresidential data is segmented by material and door type. Door purchases are also provided for the residential replacement market, manufactured housing plants, and recreation vehicle producers. Leading competitors and market trends are discussed for entry doors, patio doors, and garage door markets. Competitors are urged to use this information to develop strategies to uncover growing door products and applications. The retail distribution channel is discussed in order to review how the leading manufacturers are taking advantage of growing sales opportunities. A guide to retail sales by region and state is provided in a separate section on sales by door type and for builder and replacement sales by geographic area.
FACTORS AFFECTING DEMAND
End-use market trends are correlated with U.S. housing demand, nonresidential construction spending, mortgage interest rates, and other economic indicators to uncover the factors affecting demand, and provide insights into the direction of domestic demand in 2008 and beyond. Demographics of replacement door purchasers are also evaluated.
PROFIT MARGINS AND THE COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT
In addition, Catalina Research investigated the cost structure and profitability of U.S. door product plants. Data trends were compiled for material, labor, and capital inputs. As part of this analysis, Catalina profiled 23 leading North American manufacturers, compiled company door sales and profit margins, and calculated market shares. Company profiles cover product lines, manufacturing and distribution, capital investments, acquisitions, and new products. Executives are urged to review the growth- and profit-oriented strategies of leading North American door manufactures.
CANADIAN DOOR INDUSTRY
The Canadian door industry is analyzed as well. Shipments, imports, and exports are provided for steel, aluminum, and wood doors. Catalina calculated market shares for the leading suppliers.
(0 items)
