Laminate flooring - Eastern Europe compensates for USA's losses
18/01/2008 - 17:50
Europe’s laminate flooring manufacturers can presumably look back on a good year 2007. By tradition, from 12-15 January 2008 at Domotex in Hanover are presented the first projections on the basis of the first three quarters of 2007. Global sales of “made in Europe” quality laminate floorings are on the increase with slight growth in Western Europe and major gains in Eastern Europe. The losses in the USA business could be compensated in such a way.
Worldwide in 2007, the 19 member companies of the EPLF European Producers of Laminate Flooring achieved sales of 496 million m² of laminate flooring produced in Europe (previous year = 468 million m²). This represents an increase in global sales of 6 %. The overall market share held by EPLF member companies in the world market is estimated by the Association to be around 55 %.
In 2007, Western European markets as well as Eastern European markets were able to post growth figures. Whilst sales in Western Europe have increased only slightly, Eastern Europe has leapt ahead. In Western Europe, 297 million m² of laminate flooring (previous year = 285 million m²) were sold, while in Eastern Europe the figure was 121 million m² (previous year = 88 million m²). This represents growth of 4.2 % in Western Europe and 37.5 % in Eastern Europe. Ahead of the field in Western Europe are Germany, France, UK, Spain and the Netherlands, while their counterparts in Eastern Europe – Poland, Romania and Russia – each recorded sales of between 20 and 30 million m² of laminate flooring.
The figures indicate that the markets of Western Europe remain the most important sales areas for EPLF member companies. The German market remains stable at 98 million m² (previous year = likewise 98 million m²) and continues to be the largest single European market. France has grown to 42 million m² (previous year = 36 million m²) and lies in second place in Western European market rankings. The UK recorded a slight reversal with sales of 38 million m² (previous year = 40 million m²) and takes third place. Spain is making gains and with sales of 23 million m² (previous year = 18 million m²) has achieved fourth place for the first time. With 22 million m² (previous year = 21 million m²), the Netherlands are close behind and take fifth place.
In North America, the EPLF continues to record a downturn in sales of “made in Europe” laminate flooring. A year-on-year comparison shows a reduction in total sales from 68 million m² (2006) to 50 million m² (2007). This corresponds to a drop of 26.5 %. The US market accounts for the lion’s share here, which with 32 million m² (previous year = 50 million m²) reports a minus figure for 2007 of 36 %. This development is related to individual EPLF member companies setting up their own production facilities in the USA and also to the increase in Chinese exports to the USA. The South American market has not been able to maintain its growth trend over the past two years, with sales of 11 million m² (previous year = 12 million m²) in Latin American countries for 2007.
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