Imports, Exports Up For The First Three Months
Of 2019, March Imports Down
U.S. government trade figures for March 2019 indicated raw material imports were down in three categories outlined: broom and mop handles, brush backs and metal handles, compared to March 2018. For the first three months of 2019, raw material imports were up in one category outlined: hog bristle, compared to the first three months of 2018.
Import totals for March 2019 were down in six finished goods categories outlined: brooms of broom corn valued at more than 96 cents, toothbrushes, hair brushes, shaving brushes, paint rollers and paintbrushes, compared to March 2018. During the first three months of 2019, import totals were up in six categories outlined, compared to the first three months 2018: brooms of broom corn valued at more than 96 cents, brooms and brushes of vegetable materials, toothbrushes, hairbrushes, shaving brushes and upright brooms.
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– RAW MATERIAL IMPORTS –
Hog Bristle
The United States imported 11,918 kilograms of hog bristle in March 2019,
up 10 percent from 10,853 kilograms imported in March 2018. During the first
three months of 2019, 61,228 kilograms of hog bristle were imported, up 13 percent from 54,129 for the first three months of 2018.
China sent all the hog bristle to the United States during the first three
months of 2019.
The average price per kilogram for March 2019 was $36.37, down 19 percent from the average price per kilogram for March 2018 of $44.64. During the first three months of 2019, the average price per kilogram was $40.62, up 37 percent from $29.56 for the first three months of 2018.
Broom And Mop Handles
The import total of broom and mop handles during March 2019 was 1.4 million, down 22 percent from 1.8 million for March 2018. During the first three months of 2019, 4.5 million broom and mop handles were imported, the same as for 2018.
During the first three months of 2019, the United States received 2.4 million broom and mop handles from Honduras and 1.2 million from Brazil.
The average price per handle for March 2019 was 81 cents, up 33 percent from 61 cents for March 2018. During the first three months of 2019, the average price per handle was 71 cents, down 3 percent from 73 cents for 2018.
Brush Backs
March 2019 imports of brush backs totaled 401,454, down 24 percent from 529,038 for March 2018. During the first three months of 2019, 1.3 million brush backs were imported, the same as for 2018.
Indonesia shipped 547,208 brush backs to the United States during March 2019, while Sri Lanka sent 443,610 brush backs and Canada exported 321,452.
The average price per brush back was 50 cents during March 2019, down 7 percent from 54 cents for March 2018. During the first three months of 2019, the average price was 52 cents, down 4 percent from 54 cents for 2018.
Metal Handles
The import total of metal handles during March 2019 was 762,983, down 46 percent from 1.4 million for March 2018. During the first three months of 2019, 3.6 million metal handles were imported, down 31 percent from 5.2 million for 2018.
During the first three months of 2019, Italy sent 1.4 million metal handles to the United States, while China exported 1.3 million.
The average price per handle for March 2019 was $1.42, up 28 percent from $1.11 for March 2018. During the first three months of 2019, the average price per handle was $1.23, up 17 percent from $1.05 for 2018.
– FINISHED GOODS IMPORTS –
Brooms Of Broom Corn Valued At More Than 96 Cents
The United States imported 487,409 brooms of broom corn valued at more than
96 cents per broom during March 2019, down 14 percent from 569,904 for March 2018. During the first three months of 2019, 1.5 million brooms were imported, up
7 percent from 1.4 million for the first three months of 2018.
Mexico sent nearly all the brooms to the United States during the first three
months of 2019.
The average price per broom for March 2019 was $2.37, down 8 percent from $2.58 for March 2018. During the first three months of 2019, the average price per broom was $2.36, down 5 percent from $2.48 for the first three months of 2018.
Brooms & Brushes Of Vegetable Material
The import total of brooms and brushes of vegetable material during March 2019 was 501,032, up 22 percent from 410,257 brooms and brushes imported during March 2018. For the first three months of 2019, 1.4 million brooms and brushes were imported, up 90 percent from 736,062 for the first three months of 2018.
During the first three months of 2019, Sri Lanka exported 578,748 brooms and brushes to the United States, while China sent 458,751.
The average price per unit for March 2019 was 86 cents, up 43 percent from the average price for March 2018 of 60 cents. During the first three months of 2019, the average price per unit was 66 cents, down 42 percent from $1.14 for the first three months of 2018.
Toothbrushes
The United States imported 74.1 million toothbrushes in March 2019, down 15 percent from 87.5 million imported in March 2018. During the first three months of 2019, 292.4 million toothbrushes were imported, up 4 percent from 281.2 million for the first three months of 2018.
China sent 232.6 million toothbrushes to the United States during the first three months of 2019.
The average price per toothbrush for March 2019 was 27 cents, up 1 cent from the average price for March 2018. During the first three months of 2019, the average price per toothbrush was 26 cents, up 8 percent from 24 cents for the first three months of 2018.
Hairbrushes
March 2019 imports of hairbrushes totaled 2.9 million, down 28 percent from
4 million for March 2018. During the first three months of 2019, 13.2 million hairbrushes were imported, up 3 percent from 12.8 million for the first three
months of 2018.
China sent 12.9 million hairbrushes to the United States during the first three months of 2019.
The average price per hairbrush was 26 cents during March 2019, up 13 percent from 23 cents for March 2018. During the first three months of 2019, the average price per hairbrush was 24 cents, the same as the average price for the first three months of 2018.
Shaving Brushes
The United States imported 1.9 million shaving brushes in March 2019, down 53 percent from 4 million imported in March 2018. During the first three months of 2019, 14.4 million shaving brushes were imported, up 20 percent from 12 million for the first three months of 2018.
China sent 9.4 million shaving brushes to the United States during the first three months of 2019, while South Korea shipped 3.1 million.
The average price per shaving brush for March 2019 was 20 cents, up 43 percent from the average price for March 2018 of 14 cents. During the first three months of 2019, the average price per brush was 11 cents, down 31 percent from 16 cents for the first three months of 2018.
Paint Rollers
The import total of paint rollers during March 2019 was 3.6 million, down 56 percent from 8.1 million for March 2018. During the first three months of 2019,
16 million paint rollers were imported, down 29 percent from 22.5 million for the
first three months of 2018.
China sent 12.6 million paint rollers to the United States during the first three months of 2019.
The average price per paint roller for March 2019 was 57 cents, up 46 percent
from 39 cents for March 2018. During the first three months of 2019, the average price per paint roller was 52 cents, up 24 percent from 42 cents for the first three months of 2018.
Paintbrushes
U.S. companies imported 18.4 million paintbrushes during March 2019, down
39 percent from 30 million for March 2018. During the first three months of 2019, 68.3 million paintbrushes were imported, down 18 percent from 82.9 million for
the first three months of 2018.
China shipped 60 million paintbrushes to the United States during the first three months of 2019.
The average price per paintbrush for March 2019 was 28 cents, up 8 percent from 26 cents for March 2018. During the first three months of 2019, the average price per paintbrush was also 28 cents, up 8 percent from 26 cents for the first three months of 2018.
Upright Brooms
The total import of upright brooms for March 2019 was 1.2 million, the same as for March 2018. During the first three months of 2019, 5.4 million upright broom were imported, up 23 percent from 4.4 million for the first three months of 2018.
China sent 4.8 million upright brooms to the United States during the first three months of 2019.
The average price per broom for March 2019 was $1.71, up 35 percent from
$1.27 for March 2018. During the first three months of 2019, the average price
per broom was $1.69 per upright broom, up 20 percent from $1.41 for the first
three months of 2018.
– EXPORTS –
Export totals for March 2019 were up in three categories outlined: toothbrushes, artist brushes and paintbrushes, compared to March 2018.
For the first three months of 2019, export totals were also up in three categories outlined, compared to the first three months of 2018: brooms
and brushes of vegetable material, toothbrushes and paintbrushes.
Brooms & Brushes Of Vegetable Materials
The United States exported 5,322 dozen brooms and brushes of vegetable materials during March 2019, down 36 percent from the March 2018 total of 8,252 dozen. For the first three months of 2019, 22,672 dozen brooms and brushes were exported, up 7 percent from 21,169 dozen for the first three months of 2018.
The United States sent 8,742 dozen brooms and brushes to Canada during the
first three months of 2019, while Australia received 1,867 dozen and Mexico imported 1,001 dozen.
The average price per dozen brooms and brushes was $37.59 in March 2019, up
3 percent from $36.51 for March 2018. During the first three months of 2019, the average price per dozen brooms and brushes was $33.54, down 4 percent from $34.88 per dozen for the first three months of 2018.
Toothbrushes
During March 2019, the United States exported 18.5 million toothbrushes, up
37 percent from 13.5 million for March 2018. During the first three months of 2019, 45.5 million toothbrushes were exported, up 20 percent from 37.8 million for the first three months of 2018.
The United States exported 10.8 million toothbrushes to Germany and 10.1 million to Canada during the first three months of 2019.
The average price per toothbrush for March 2019 was 48 cents, down 14 percent from 56 cents for March 2018. During the first three months of 2019, the average price per brush was 49 cents, down 9 percent from 54 cents for the first three months of 2018.
Shaving Brushes
The United States exported 827,720 shaving brushes during March 2019, down
48 percent from 1.6 million for March 2018. During the first three months of 2019, 3.4 million shaving brushes were exported, down 24 percent from 4.5 million for the first three months of 2018.
During the first three months of 2019, the United States exported 1.2 million shaving brushes to Brazil and 958,884 to Canada.
The average price per shaving brush for March 2019 was $1.74, up 37 percent from $1.27 for March 2018. During the first three months of 2019, the average price per shaving brush was $1.31, down 3 percent from $1.35 for the first three months of 2018.
Artist Brushes
March 2019 exports of artist brushes totaled 1.1 million, up 10 percent from
1 million for March 2018. During the first three months of 2019, 2.3 million artist brushes were exported, down 18 percent from 2.8 million for the first three
months of 2018.
Canada received 1.4 million artist brushes from the United States during the first three months of 2019.
The average price per artist brush was $3.20 during March 2019, down 44 percent from the average price for March 2018 of $5.71. During the first three months of 2019, the average price per artist brush was $3.52, down 19 percent from $4.32
for the first three months of 2018.
Paintbrushes
The export total of paintbrushes during March 2019 was 224,877, up 1 percent from 223,424 for March 2018. During the first three months of 2019, 629,591 paintbrushes were exported, up 26 percent from 497,816 for the first three months of 2018.
Canada imported 234,426 paintbrushes from the United States during the first three months of 2019.
The average price per paintbrush for March 2019 was $5.29, down 21 percent
from $6.67 for March 2018. During the first three months of 2019, the average
price per paintbrush was $5.74, down 24 percent from $7.56 for the first three months of 2018.
March 2019
Click here for the entire March 2019
Import/Export Statistics.
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By Harrell Kerkhoff |
Broom, Brush & Mop Editor
Mobile apps have become increasingly popular,
providing a variety of services, products and programs for users of such mobile devices as smartphones, tablets
and smartwatches. Some apps are free, while others come with a charge. The variety of apps available today, however, seems endless, as demonstrated by Carlos Petzold and Miguel Medrano, during a recent American Brush Manufacturers Association (ABMA) event. The men represent brush, broom and mop machinery manufacturer/supplier Borghi USA/Bodam International, of Aberdeen, MD.
From finding the closest Italian restaurant to booking the best value hotel room to learning another language — there is an app for that — and much more, according to Petzold and Medrano.
Among that apps they highlighted,
under the following categories, were:
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Carlos Petzold
Miguel Medrano |
Accounting/Finance
• XE Currency - Real-time live currency exchange;
• Zelle - Send and receive money directly to/from a bank account; and,
• Venmo - Send and receive money to specific people.
Communication
• Camera Translator - Translate photo, document, text into any language;
• WhatsApp - Free messaging and calling app by using internet connection;
• Skype - Talk, chat and collaborate to stay connected with people;
• WeChat - Voice/video, text, photo, location sharing messaging; and,
• Google Translate AI - Quick and effective text, speech and camera translations.
Production & Manufacturing
• Measure - Augmented Reality (AR) technology to turn a device
into a tape measure and level;
• Decibel X - Noise meter for pre‐calibrated measurements
and sound pressure levels; and,
• Electrical Calculations LITE - Over 100 electrical, fuse, pinout
and resistor convergences.
Travel
• FlightStats - Real-time flight status, alerts, information and airport tracking;
• Hopper - Monitor airline prices;
• Booking.com - Search for hotels, motels and vacation
homes for best accommodations;
• Waze - Live GPS navigation informing regarding traffic,
construction delays, police, accidents and more; and,
• Rome2Rio - Find travel options/accommodations including airline,
train, bus, ferry, etc., between global destinations.
Organization/Time Management
• RoboForm - Password manager for logging and securely archiving passwords;
• NordVPN - Provides safe, secure and private internet access with
advanced VPN (Virtual Private Networks);
• Adobe Scan - Instant PDF scanner for receipts, documents, business cards etc.;
• Trello - Helps organize/plan projects, vacations, company events, etc.;
• Parking Panda - Quickly search and reserve a parking spot; and,
• SpotHero - Access to thousands of garages, lots and valets to
reserve a parking spot.
Miscellaneous
• PeakVisor - 3D maps, elevations, trails, compass, guides for outdoor activities/hikes;
• Slopes - Track speed, distance, vertical, lift/trail time on ski/snowboarding slopes;
• Jump - Rent electric bicycles in cities;
• Headspace - Health and mindful meditation to remove stress and bring
wellness and balance; and,
• Duolingo - Over 30 languages to learn and improve with easy/fun
interactive games/exercises.
Fun
• OpenTable - Book, update or cancel reservations for over
45,000 restaurants around the world;
• Fooducate - Nutrition and ingredient analysis tracker for hundreds of
thousands of foods; and,
• Vivino - Scan, learn, review, rate and track world’s largest wine library.
Roundtable Participant’s Favorite Apps
Other apps mentioned by participants during the roundtable presentation included:
• GasBuddy - Provides real-time fuel price information, station locations and station offerings, ratings and reviews. GasBuddy’s payment service, Pay with GasBuddy, allows users to save money on gas that they purchase at participating stations;
• The Swiss Army Knife - Features a set of tools including flashlight, unit converter,
timer, stop watch, compass, level, calculator, magnifying glass, mirror and ruler;
• Google Flights - Serves as an online flight booking search that facilitates the
purchase of airline tickets through third-party suppliers;
• Find My Friends - Allows one person to track the location of another person
after approval by the one who is being tracked. The app is often used to track the
location of family members, friends and/or employees;
• MySugr - Helps the user monitor his/her blood sugar levels; and,
• Hello Vino - A virtual wine buying assistant, including recommendations
for food and wine pairings and for special occasions, as well as personalized wine picks based on taste preferences.
Petzold spoke more about specific apps that he has found helpful while traveling.
“With FlightStats, you can connect with different airlines to pick the best flight. What is really great about the app is that it shows where your plane is located while it’s in the air,” he said. “You can see if that plane took off on time as it heads to your airport.
“I also like Parking Panda, which allows you to make a prepaid reservation at many parking garages. That is really helpful if you are going to an event where parking may be an issue.”
Petzold also spoke of Adobe Scan, an app which allows a smartphone to work as a scanner.
“You can scan a page and sign it (with a specific type of pen), which then becomes an official document,” he said.
The app can capture such items as receipts, forms, pictures, business cards and notes. Using built-in Optical Character Recognition (OCR), it can transform those items into smart PDFs.
“I also like Google Translate, which allows the user to type in words in one language and
then find their meaning in another language,” Petzold said.
From Shurhold
The Bucket Reimagined
“The heart of the Deluxe One Bucket System is the World's Best Rope Handle Bucket. Thicker than the average plastic 5 gallon pail, it's built for years of being tossed into storage compartments and closets. A 3/4-inch double-braid nylon handle provides a soft, comfortable grip, even when fully loaded. And without a wire hoop, there's nothing to rust or scratch fine finishes. It comes with a removable non-marking rubber base that provides added stability and slide-resistance—a real help when using heavy mops and brushes,”
said the company.
According to a press release, “Inside the World's Best Rope Handle Bucket is the Bucket Grate. Sitting up off the floor of the bucket, brushes and mops are scrubbed against it to remove dirt that then sifts through the grate and out of the wash water. Two three-ounce measuring cups are built in for adding soaps and cleaning solutions in precise amounts.”
On top of the Bucket Grate is the handled Bucket Caddy. Two compartments provide
storage for bottles and smaller cleaning tools. It has a perforated bottom to drain water
away from its contents.
“Keeping everything secure within the Deluxe One Bucket System is the padded Bucket Seat/Lid. Strong enough to stand on, it's an alternative to flipping the bucket upside down.
The Bucket Grate, Bucket Caddy and Bucket Seat/Lid are available separately and fit standard five-gallon pails.”
Shurhold manufactures specialty care items and accessories to clean, polish and detail.
Visit Shurhold at www.shurhold.com/rv.
Nexstep Commercial Products Announces
Its
MaxiRough® X-Frame Cart
Nexstep Commercial Products (Exclusive Licensee of O-Cedar) announces
its new MaxiRough® X-Frame Cart.
The features include:
• Plastic frame is lightweight yet extremely strong;
• Multi-use cart folds for easy storage;
• Heavy-duty vinyl bag included; and,
• Bag measures 18 inches long x 21 inches wide x 26 1⁄2 inches tall.
For more information on Nexstep products, visit www.ocedarcommercial.com
or customerservice@ocedarcommercial.com.
45th Annual Wisconsin Brush Manufacturers
Golf Outing & Dinner Set For July 25
The 45th Annual Wisconsin Brush Manufacturers Golf Outing & Dinner is scheduled for Thursday, July 25, 2019, at Western Lakes Golf Club, in Pewaukee, WI.
The event begins at 11 a.m. with registration, followed by lunch at 11:30 a.m.,
and a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. A cocktail reception is scheduled at 4:30 p.m.,
with dinner starting at 6:30 p.m.
Call Tanya Murn at 262-646-6189 or Lisa Manke 262-646-6172, both with Tanis, Inc.,
(Delafield, WI) for more information and entry form.
Email inquiries can also be sent to: tmurn@tanisinc.com or lmanke@tanisinc.com.
The course and clubhouse are located at W287 N1963 Oakton Rd., Pewaukee, WI 53075, phone 262-692-0900. The location is approximately 30 minutes from downtown Milwaukee.
Directions: Take I-94 West to Highway SS, turn right, go 3 miles to Oakton Road,
turn left and go 0.7 miles to the Western Lakes entrance.
Reservation and payment by check must be received by July 15. Foursomes will be
assigned, and lists of pairings will be mailed. Rental clubs are available at the pro shop.
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