BBM eNews

U.S. government trade figures for the first five months of 2018 indicated raw material imports were down in two categories outlined: hog bristle and metal handles, compared to the first five months of 2017. For May 2018, all four categories reported decreases: hog bristle, broom and mop handles, brush backs and metal handles, compared to May 2017.

Import totals for the first five months of 2018 were up in four finished goods categories outlined: toothbrushes, paint rollers, paintbrushes and upright brooms, compared to the first five months of 2017. In May 2018, five categories outlined recorded decreases: brooms of broom corn valued
at more than 96 cents, brooms and brushes of vegetable material, toothbrushes, hairbrushes and shaving brushes, compared to May 2017.

Hog Bristle

The United States imported 18,758 kilograms of hog bristle in May 2018, down 55 percent from 41,311 kilograms imported in May 2017. During the first five months of 2018, 76,547 kilograms of hog bristle were imported, down 46 percent from 141,696 kilograms imported during the first five months of 2017.

China sent 76,443 kilograms of hog bristle to the United States during the first five months of 2018.

The average price per kilogram for May 2018 was $42.89, up 96 percent from the average price per kilogram for May 2017 of $21.86. The average price per kilogram for the first five months of 2018 was $32.97, up 46 percent from the average price per kilogram of $22.52 for the first five months of 2017.

Broom And Mop Handles

The import total of broom and mop handles during May 2018 was 1.4 million, down 22 percent from 1.8 million for May 2017. During the first five months of 2018, 7.6 million broom and mop handles were imported, the same as for the first five months of 2017.

During the first five months of 2018, the United States received 3.3 million broom and mop handles from Honduras, 2.3 million from Brazil and 1.5 million from China.

The average price per handle for May 2018 was 69 cents, down 24 percent from 91 cents for May 2017. The average price for the first five months of 2018 was 73 cents, down 11 percent from 82 cents for the first five months of 2017.

Brush Backs

May 2018 imports of brush backs totaled 468,463, down 19 percent from 579,976 for May 2017. During the first five months of 2018, 2.2 million brush backs were imported, the same as for the first five months of 2017.

Sri Lanka shipped 1.1 million brush backs to the United States during the first five months of 2018, while Canada sent 842,657.

The average price per brush back was 51 cents during May 2018, down
9 percent from 56 cents for May 2017. For the first five months of 2018, the average price per brush back was 51 cents, down 6 percent from 54 cents for
the first five months of 2017.

Metal Handles

The import total of metal handles during May 2018 was 1.6 million, down 16 percent from 1.9 million for May 2017. During the first five months of 2018, 9.1 million metal handles were imported, down 11 percent from 10.2 million for the first five months of 2017.

During the first five months of 2018, Italy exported 3.9 million metal handles to the United States, while China sent 3.2 million and Spain shipped 1.7 million.

The average price per handle for May 2018 was 86 cents, down 5 percent from 91 cents for May 2017. The average price for the first five months of 2018 was 95 cents, up 6 percent from 90 cents for the first five months of 2017.

– FINISHED GOODS IMPORTS –

Brooms Of Broom Corn Valued At More Than 96 Cents

The United States imported 592,346 brooms of broom corn valued at more than 96 cents per broom during May 2018, down 10 percent from 655,943 for May 2017. During the first five months of 2018, 2.6 million brooms of broom corn were imported, down 10 percent from 2.9 million for the first five months of 2017.

Mexico sent nearly all of the brooms to the United States during the first five months of 2018.

The average price per broom for May 2018 was $2.34, the same as for May 2017. The average price per broom for the first five months of 2018 was $2.43, up 3 percent from the average price for the first five months of 2017 of $2.36.

Brooms & Brushes Of Vegetable Material

The import total of brooms and brushes of vegetable material during May 2018 was 244,367, down 17 percent from 295,855 brooms and brushes imported during May 2017. During the first five months of 2018, 1.1 million brooms and brushes were imported, down 8 percent from 1.2 million for the first five months of 2017.

Sri Lanka exported 594,225 brooms and brushes to the United States during the first five months of 2018, while China sent 269,414.

The average price per unit for May 2018 was $1.15, down 49 percent from the average price for May 2017 of $2.24. The average price for the first five months of 2018 was $1.12, down 26 percent from $1.52 for the first five months of 2017.

Toothbrushes

The United States imported 96.3 million toothbrushes in May 2018, down 5
percent from 101.5 million imported in May 2017. During the first five months
of 2018, 462.9 million toothbrushes were imported, up 5 percent from 442.9
million for the first five months of 2017.

China sent 365.5 million toothbrushes to the United States during the first five months of 2018.

The average price per toothbrush for May 2018 was 25 cents, up 14 percent from 22 cents for May 2017. The average price for the first five months of 2018 was 24 cents, up 14 percent from 21 cents for the first five months of 2017.

Hairbrushes

May 2018 imports of hairbrushes totaled 3.6 million, down 18 percent from 4.4 million for May 2017. During the first five months of 2018, 19.8 million hairbrushes were imported, the same as for the first five months of 2017.

China sent nearly all the hairbrushes to the United States during the first five months of 2018.

The average price per hairbrush was 24 cents during May 2018, down 8
percent from the average price for May 2017 of 26 cents. For the first five
months of 2018, the average price per hairbrush was 24 cents, the same as
for the first five months of 2017.

Shaving Brushes

The United States imported 3.2 million shaving brushes in May 2018, down 37 percent from 5.1 million imported in May 2017. During the first five months of
2018, 19.4 million shaving brushes were imported, down 23 percent from 25.1 million imported during the first five months of 2017.

China sent 14 million shaving brushes to the United States during the first five months of 2018.

The average price per shaving brush for May 2018 was 17 cents, up one cent
from the average price for May 2017. The average price for the first five months
of 2018 was 15 cents, also up one cent from the average price for the first five months of 2017.

Paint Rollers

The import total of paint rollers during May 2018 was 6.4 million, up 10 percent from 5.8 million for May 2017. During the first five months of 2018, 33.9 million paint rollers were imported, up 17 percent from 28.9 million during the first five months of 2017.

China sent 27.6 million paint rollers to the United States during the first five
months of 2018.

The average price per paint roller for May 2018 was 42 cents, down 11 percent from 47 cents for May 2017. The average price for the first five months of 2018
was 44 cents, up 5 percent from the average price for the first five months of
2017 of 42 cents.

Paintbrushes

U.S. companies imported 27.7 million paintbrushes during May 2018, up 24 percent from 22.3 million for May 2017. Paintbrush imports for the first five months of 2018 were 130.5 million, up 22 percent from 107.2 million for the first five months of 2017.

China shipped 117.3 million paintbrushes to the United States during the first five months of 2018.

The average price per paintbrush for May 2018 was 27 cents, down 10 percent from 30 cents for May 2017. The average price for the first five months of 2018 was 27 cents, down 7 percent from 29 cents for the first five months of 2017.

Upright Brooms

The total import of upright brooms for May 2018 was 1.7 million, up 91 percent from 888,051 for May 2017. During the first five months of 2018, 7.3 million upright brooms were imported, up 11 percent from 6.6 million imported during the first five months of 2017.

China sent 6.3 million upright brooms to the United States during the first five months of 2018.

The average price per broom for May 2018 was $1.23, down 24 percent from $1.62 for May 2017. The average price per broom for the first five months of 2018 was $1.37, up 10 percent from $1.24 for the first five months of 2017.

– EXPORTS –

Export totals for the first five months of 2018 were up in three categories outlined: toothbrushes, shaving brushes and artist brushes, compared to the first five months of 2017.

In May 2018, three categories reported increases, compared to May 2017: shaving brushes, artist brushes and paintbrushes.

Brooms & Brushes Of Vegetable Materials

The United States exported 6,645 dozen brooms and brushes of vegetable materials during May 2018, down 26 percent from the May 2017 total of 8,952 dozen. Exports of brooms and brushes of vegetable materials during the first five months of 2018 were 36,276 dozen, down 8 percent from 39,643 dozen for the first five months of 2017.

The United States sent 19,268 dozen brooms and brushes to Canada, during the first five months of 2018.

The average price per dozen brooms and brushes was $39.47 in May 2018, up
17 percent from $33.73 for May 2017. The average price per dozen brooms and brushes for the first five months of 2018 was $37.29, up 17 percent from $31.92
for the first five months of 2017.

Toothbrushes

During May 2018, the United States exported 13.7 million toothbrushes, down 3 percent from 14.1 million for May 2017. During the first five months of 2018, 65.2 million toothbrushes were exported, up 8 percent from 60.6 million exported during the first five months of 2017.

The United States exported 18.8 million toothbrushes to Canada and 13.4 million to Germany.

The average price per toothbrush for May 2018 was 55 cents, up 6 percent from
52 cents for May 2017. The average price per toothbrush for the first five months
of 2018 was 54 cents, down one cent from the average price for the first five months of 2017.

Shaving Brushes

The United States exported 2.8 million shaving brushes during May 2018, up 27 percent from 2.2 million for May 2017. During the first five months of 2018, 9.1 million shaving brushes were exported, up 23 percent from 7.4 million for the first five months of 2017.

During the first five months of 2018, the United States exported 3.6 million shaving brushes to Brazil, 1.9 million to Mexico and 1.6 million to Canada.

The average price per shaving brush for May 2018 was 60 cents, down 24 percent from 79 cents for May 2017. The average price for the first five months of 2018 was $1.07, down one cent from the average price for the first five months of 2017.

Artist Brushes

May 2018 exports of artist brushes totaled 1.2 million, up 45 percent from 826,958 for May 2017. During the first five months of 2018, 4.8 million artist brushes were exported, up 37 percent from 3.5 million for the first five months of 2017.

Canada received 3.2 million artist brushes from the United States during the first five months of 2018.

The average price per artist brush was $2.69 during May 2018, down 48 percent from the average price for May 2017 of $5.19. For the first five months of 2018, the average price per artist brush was $3.80, down 13 percent from $4.36 for the first five months of 2017.

Paintbrushes

The export total of paintbrushes during May 2018 was 190,203, up 3 percent from 184,243 for May 2017. During the first five months of 2018, 929,147 paintbrushes were exported, down 7 percent from 999,271 for the first five months of 2017.

Canada imported 466,307 paintbrushes from the United States during the first five months of 2018.

The average price per paintbrush for May 2018 was $8.23, up 24 percent from $6.65 for May 2017. The average price for the first five months of 2018 was $7.16, up 11 percent from $6.44 for the first five months of 2017.

May 2018

Click here for the entire May 2018
Import/Export Statistics.

News From Zahoransky

ZAHORANSKY Receives Innovation Award 2018 From German Publication


The news and business magazines FOCUS and FOCUS Money, in cooperation with
the International School of Management (ISM) in Dortmund, Germany, have awarded ZAHORANSKY with the Deutschland Test seal: "Innovation Award 2018: Germany's
most innovative companies."

A press release stated, “The 5,000 German companies with the largest number of employees from the major B2C and B2B sectors were subjected to an independent analysis. Five hundred and one companies from over 100 industries were awarded the test seal by the news magazine, FOCUS. Along with ZAHORANSKY, eight other companies in mechanical engineering received the seal.

“The test evaluated 15 million consumer opinions and references on innovation, investment, research and development, new product developments and technologies
in digital media. The innovative strength of companies as it is really perceived by consumers was determined by means of statistical procedures, and with the aid of
artificial intelligence.”

For more information, visit www.deutschlandtest.de/innovationspreis/
and/or www.deutschlandtest.de/de/wp-content/uploads/DT-2018-Innovation.pdf.

ZAHORANSKY USA Plans Open House

ZAHORANSKY USA is planning an open house in September until the first week in October. The company will showcase its Z.WASP 2, and its Z.PARD 6225.

The company said the Z.WASP 2 is the most versatile in its product line, and the

3-station carousel Z.PARD is the company’s newest addition.

The open house will offer a hands-on, one-on-one brush making experience.
To schedule an appointment, call 630-507-9872, or
email steve.bellocchio@zahoransky.com.

Gordon Brush Receives Award For
Manufacturing In The U.S.

Ken Rakusin, president/CEO of Gordon Brush Mfg. Co., Inc.

Gordon Brush Mfg. Co., Inc., is the 2018 winner of the MADE: In America Award.
The award was presented July 3 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., to company president/CEO Ken Rakusin. The award was presented by Congressman and
Democratic House Whip Steny Hoyer (MD-5), in the inaugural All American Room,
making its national debut in the Rayburn House Office Building foyer.

According to a press release, “Gordon Brush made the short list of U.S. manufacturers invited to compete for the 2018 award by Washington, D.C., headquartered nonprofit MADE: In America™. These companies have been identified and vetted for best business practices, placing them at the top of their respective industries. Each is required to make an in-depth submission detailing its commitment to ongoing manufacturing and job creation in the United States.”

According to MADE: In America Chairman James De Lorbe, "Gordon Brush is a truly singular company, not only in its industry but in the United States. Mr. Rakusin's leadership and track record, in not only sustaining but growing a long-established company here in the United States, throughout a turbulent period of ever increasing pressures to ship production overseas, represents a significant and exemplary contribution to our Nation deserving the highest order of recognition."

Rakusin said, "Winning the prestigious MADE: In America Award is an amazing honor
and accomplishment for Gordon Brush. Even under competitive threats, the company
has been steadfast in its philosophy and commitment to manufacturing in the United States. In spite of many issues, I was determined to build and grow my business in the United States by re-investing profits into the purchase of millions of dollars in manufacturing equipment and machinery. Pride in contributing to the American
economy is near-and-dear to my heart."

MADE: In America is a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit based on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. (www.madeinamerica-usa.org/). The organization's mission is to
create and foster a business climate conducive to the free exchange of ideas and information to revitalize and sustain the competitiveness of American commerce and industry in a global economy.

Gordon Brush Mfg. Co., Inc., established in 1951, is an ISO 9001:2015 certified
American manufacturer of brooms and brushes.

For more information, visit www.gordonbrush.com.

Paul Miller, President Of The Mill-Rose Company, Honored During 58th Annual Golf Tournament For Brush Manufacturers And Suppliers

Brush manufacturers and suppliers from around the world gathered for the 58th annual Victor F. Miller Golf Tournament hosted June 21 by Mentor, OH-based The Mill-Rose Company, at Shaker Heights Country Club, in Cleveland, OH.

According to a press release, “Prizes were awarded to golfers for outstanding performance. Terry Hogan, of Hahl-Perlon, won both closest to the pin events; Mitch Sears, of The Malish Corporation, won both long drive events; Chris Orenchuck, of Parker Brush Company, won low gross; Jim Hauck, of Malin Wire, won low net; and, Kevin Lannon, of Lanoco Specialty Wire Products, retained his title as ‘Wolf Champion.’

“Following dinner, speeches by Gregory Miller, vice president of The Mill-Rose Company, and other industry friends, paid tribute to Paul Miller, president of Mill-Rose, who could not attend the entire event due to health-related issues. Honoring Paul Miller, golfers joined in a photo shoot spelling out ‘PM,’ his initials.”

According to Greg Miller, “The 2018 Victor F. Miller Golf Tournament was a great success. Although tempered by my dad’s (Paul Miller) absence, there was a special comaraderie among attendees knowing that friendships should not be taken for granted.”

Carlos Petzold, president of the American Brush Manufacturers Association (ABMA), addressed the group, and provided updates on the association, and dates for the 2019 convention to be held in the Bahamas. On behalf of the European Brushware Federation (FEIBP), Ian Moss, of Brush Fibers, provided information on the federation’s upcoming congress set for later this year in Bordeaux, France.

Over 65 representatives from the United States, and countries from around the
world, attended the event. Manufacturers and suppliers gathered during the week
before the golf outing to discuss business trends and opportunities for the brush manufacturing industry.

According to the release, “Brushes manufactured by these companies are used in
every type of industry around the world. Applications include makeup/mascara brushes, hair brushes, floor sweeping and polishing brushes, gun cleaning brushes, car wash brushes, copier toner brushes, brooms, paintbrushes and special brushes used in the medical field.

“The Mill-Rose Company is the largest U.S. manufacturer of twisted-in-wire brushes used in every type of industry throughout the world. Mill-Rose is a family-owned organization, now in its fourth generation.”

Abtex Corp. Promotes Jason Saner To President

Abtex supplies filament brushes and custom-designed deburring machines for a variety
of machined-part, aluminum-extrusion, fine-blanked, and powder-metal applications. Customers include manufacturers such as automotive tier 2 and tier 3 parts producers.

For more information, visit www.abtex.com.