China? We don't need no Far Easterners. The USA is becoming the new third world with our currency in the toilet. They are under a buck retail here in New Jersey:
progressivebrick
Or you can see a list of manufacturers here:
ThomasNet® - Category Search Results: Product/Service
I see at least 4 firebrick manufacturers in eastern PA, which is brick country nearest to the atlantic ports. It's worth a few emails to find out what quantities they would need to do an export order.