Interface seeks to lift share

Interface Inc, the world's largest manufacturer of commercial carpet tiles, aims to expand its share of the China market from 10 percent to 30 percent in tandem with its global level.

Its first plant in China, in Taicang, Jiangsu Province, will have an annual capacity of up to 10 million square meters of modular carpet. Interface didn't reveal the scale of investment in the Taicang factory.

The opening of its plant in China yesterday will help the United States-based company to expand into second- and third-tier cities as well as in other segments like hotels and retail shops. The firm now mainly supplies carpet to offices in China where multinational and domestic clients account for an equal part of its business. It also seeks to introduce its residential carpet business to the country in the future.

"In China, we aim to have the same share that we have globally," said Rob Coombs, president and CEO of Interface Asia Pacific.

China needs about 60 million square meters of commercial carpet annually, he told Shanghai Daily.


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