The European Federation of the Parquet Industry (FEP) estimates that the overall consumption figures on the European parquet market for the year 2019 are flat.
Based on information obtained from its member companies and national associations, this evaluation should be seen as a preliminary forecast and is the result of best estimates discussed with member country representatives at the recent FEP Board meeting held at the DOMOTEX fair in Hannover.
FEP underlines that this is a first prognosis subject to variations, in anticipation of the complete data to be communicated at FEP’s annual General Assembly on 11 and 12 June in Hamburg, Germany.
After a year 2018 characterised by a moderate drop, the consumption figures of parquet in Europe slightly recovered in 2019. A flat evolution is forecasted for the whole year. As usual, the results show variations from country to country. The stabilisation of the market is mainly reflecting the moderate upturn of parquet consumption in Germany, the biggest European parquet market.
Additionally, the consumption improved in Austria, France, Poland and Spain. However, these positive developments are to be balanced with the decreases observed on the Italian, Swedish, and Swiss markets as well as in part of the Nordic Cluster (Denmark, Finland and Norway). Regarding competition, and besides the increasing presence of products with a wood-look, especially Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT), the captains of the industry stress the uncertainties created by the so-called “trade war” between the US and China on the global and European markets.
In contrast, FEP sees the European Green Deal - published on 11 December 2019 by the new European Commission and adopted by the European Parliament on 15 January 2020 – as an opportunity for the Parquet Industry which welcomes the strong focus on construction and renovation.
