FROM SLIGHT IMPROVEMENTS ON MOST OF THE BIGGEST MARKETS TO STABLE OR MODERATELY DECREASING TRENDS ON OTHERS
The Board of Directors of the European Federation of the Parquet Industry (FEP) met on 2 October 2019 and discussed amongst others the parquet situation and recent economic developments on the European markets.
When compared to the same period last year, the provisional results for the first semester of 2019 point to diverging trends. On the one hand, consumption continues to show positive developments in Germany, the biggest European market for parquet, Austria, France, Poland and Spain. On the other hand, flat or slightly declining consumption trends are observed in Italy, Switzerland and Benelux. Scandinavia is presenting a mixed picture.
The competition of Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) is well present throughout Europe. But, in terms of competition, the Board of Directors of FEP especially highlights the impacts of the so-called “trade war” between the US and China on the European market. These impacts have been recently reinforced by another round of tariffs increases.
A brief per country recap is provided in the table below.
Market overview
| Austria
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The Austrian parquet market performed well during the first semester of 2019 compared to the same period last year, although consumption is expected to slow down during the third quarter of the year.
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| Belgium
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The information available show a flat to declining market during the first six months of 2019. This trend is not expected to upturn in the coming months.
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| Denmark
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Compiled data point to a progressing Danish parquet market during the first part of 2019, but, as sales of new houses in cities are decreasing, there are worries that this trend cannot be sustained in time.
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| Finland
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Parquet sales continue to rise in Finland, but the Finnish market is lacking visibility and any peak of activity observed does not seem sustainable.
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| France
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The French market performed well during the first half of 2019 compared to the same period in 2018, especially during the first quarter. |
| Germany
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After upturning, and improving slightly during the first semester, the German market is now stable and no further progress in consumption is expected by the end of 2019, which should show a slight increase by 1% for the year as a whole.
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| Italy
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Italian parquet sales declined during the first six months of 2019 compared to the same period last year, reflecting the continuation of the economic slowing down, a low level of construction activity and a decreasing renovation segment.
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| Netherlands
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The information received point to a decline of the parquet sales in the Netherlands during the first half of 2019. This slowing down of activity on the Dutch market is expected to continue for the rest of the year, reflecting the competition from LVT solutions.
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| Norway
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Compiled data indicate that the Norwegian market decreased significantly during the first semester of 2019, mirroring the competition from LVT.
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| Poland
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The Polish consumption of parquet rose notably during the first half of 2019 compared to the same period in 2018. |
| Spain | The Spanish parquet market improved slightly during the first half of 2019. However, the performance was already less important during the second quarter than the first one and the political situation, with the new elections, is not supporting economic growth.
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| Sweden | The Swedish market for parquet is slightly declining, reflecting the reduction of new residential segment while renovation is still performing well. No recovery is forecast for this year.
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| Switzerland | As expected, the parquet consumption in Switzerland was flat to slightly declining during the first six months of 2019.
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