U.S. Lock And Key Imports

In May 2023, purchases abroad of padlocks, locks and keys of base metal increased by 7.4% to 127K tons, rising for the second consecutive month after two months of decline. In general, imports, however, continue to indicate a mild curtailment. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in April 2023 when imports increased by 11% month-to-month.

In value terms, lock and key imports rose notably to $922M (IndexBox estimates) in May 2023. Overall, imports, however, saw a relatively flat trend pattern.

Imports by Country

In May 2023, China (60K tons) constituted the largest lock and key supplier to the United States, accounting for a 48% share of total imports. Moreover, lock and key imports from China exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest supplier, Mexico (17K tons), threefold. The third position in this ranking was held by Canada (16K tons), with a 12% share.

From May 2022 to May 2023, the average monthly growth rate of volume from China totaled -2.0%. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average monthly rates of imports growth: Mexico (+0.9% per month) and Canada (+0.8% per month).

In value terms, the largest lock and key suppliers to the United States were China ($277M), Mexico ($202M) and Canada ($113M), with a combined 64% share of total imports.

In terms of the main suppliers, Mexico, with a CAGR of +1.2%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of imports, over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Imports by Type

In May 2023, base metal mountings, fittings and similar articles for furniture, doors, staircases, windows, trunks, chests etc, castors with mountings of base metal, automatic door closers of base metal (113K tons) constituted the largest type of lock and key supplied to the United States, accounting for a 89% share of total imports. Moreover, base metal mountings, fittings and similar articles for furniture, doors, staircases, windows, trunks, chests etc, castors with mountings of base metal, automatic door closers of base metal exceeded the figures recorded for the second-largest type, locks; (other than those for motor vehicles or furniture), (key, combination or electrically operated), of base metal (6.1K tons), more than tenfold. The third position in this ranking was taken by base metal motor vehicle locks (5.8K tons), with a 4.6% share.

From May 2022 to May 2023, the average monthly rate of growth in terms of the volume of import of base metal mountings, fittings and similar articles for furniture, doors, staircases, windows, trunks, chests etc, castors with mountings of base metal, automatic door closers of base metal totaled -1.7%. With regard to the other supplied products, the following average monthly rates of growth were recorded: locks; (other than those for motor vehicles or furniture), (key, combination or electrically operated), of base metal (-1.2% per month) and base metal motor vehicle locks (+1.8% per month).

In value terms, base metal mountings, fittings and similar articles for furniture, doors, staircases, windows, trunks, chests etc, castors with mountings of base metal, automatic door closers of base metal ($706M) constituted the largest type of lock and key supplied to the United States, comprising 77% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was taken by locks; (other than those for motor vehicles or furniture), (key, combination or electrically operated), of base metal ($110M), with a 12% share of total imports. It was followed by base metal motor vehicle locks, with a 7.5% share.

Import Prices by Country

In May 2023, the lock and key price stood at $7,285 per ton (CIF, US), rising by 1.6% against the previous month. In general, the import price continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in February 2023 when the average import price increased by 4.1% against the previous month. Over the period under review, average import prices attained the peak figure at $7,628 per ton in March 2023; however, from April 2023 to May 2023, import prices stood at a somewhat lower figure.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major supplying countries. In May 2023, the country with the highest price was Germany ($14,906 per ton), while the price for China ($4,596 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From May 2022 to May 2023, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Germany (+3.0%), while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform