EPLF: Stable sales of laminate flooring in 2017; slow W. European market balanced in Asia

Last year, members of the European Producers of Laminate Flooring (EPLF) reported stable sales of laminated flooring produced in Europe. Sales reached 477 million m2, on par with the previous year (2016: 477 million m2). Deliveries to Western Europe were lower during 2017, meanwhile Asia recorded once again significant growth levels. Sales to North and South America were higher last year, while in Eastern Europe, the Russian market performed well, as EPLF reports. 

Sales in Western Europe (including Turkey) in 2017 reached the figure of 243 million m2 (2016: 250 million m⊃2;), which represents a decline of 2.9 % compared to the previous year. With 57 million m⊃2; sold (2016: 63 million m⊃2;), despite a plunge by 10 % and the continuing substitution trend towards thermoplastic flooring, Germany remains by far the most important single market in Central Europe. 

France remained stable in 2017 with 37.6 million m⊃2; (previous year: 37.4 million m⊃2;) and continues to occupy second place in Europe. The United Kingdom continued its positive trend for EPLF members, it registered sales of 33.8 million m⊃2; (prev. year approx. 33 million m⊃2;), an increase of nearly 2.5 %. This puts it in third place ahead of Turkey, where the turnover for Association members slumped again in 2017: laminate sales fell there by 9.2 % down to 24.9 million m⊃2; (previous year: 27.5 million m⊃2;). The Netherlands can lay claim to fifth place again with over 19.7 million m⊃2; (previous year 19.3 million m⊃2;). Spain follows on behind with nearly 17 million m⊃2; (prev. year 17 million m⊃2;).

Once again, more EPLF laminate was sold in Eastern Europe in 2017 than in the previous year – at 128 million m⊃2; (prev. year 126 million m⊃2;), European laminate floor producers in that area achieved an increase of 1.9 %. Even if the increase rate was not as good as in the previous year, this area remains an important growth market for the EPLF. Since 2015, the Association has been aware of approx. 20 million m⊃2; of products made by our EPLF members in Russia that have not, for various reasons, been captured in the statistics. In 2017, Russian members of the EPLF reported sales of nearly 35 million m⊃2; (prev. year 34 million m⊃2;), which means they achieve a growth rate of 5.2 %. Poland registered a steady result with nearly 31 million m⊃2; in 2017 (previous year: 31 million m⊃2;). A slight downturn was seen in Romania with 13.2 million m⊃2; (prev. year 13.6 million m⊃2;). Subsequent places in the ranking are occupied by Ukraine with 7.4 million m⊃2; (previous year 6.2 million m⊃2;) and a growth rate of 18.2 %, then Hungary at 6,5 million m⊃2; (previous year 6.2 million m⊃2;) and Bulgaria at 5 million m⊃2; (previous year 5 million m⊃2;).
 
In North America, the EPLF’s series of successes in European laminate flooring continues: with 49 million m⊃2; in 2017 (prev. year: 47 million m⊃2;), this region once again managed to increase its growth rate with 4.7 % more sales than in the previous year. The USA demonstrated an increase of 8.1 % in 2017 with approx. 32 million m⊃2; (previous year 29 million m⊃2;), while Canada showed nearly 18 million m⊃2; (prev. year: 18.1 million m⊃2;).

The strongest positive trend was seen in Asia-Pacific, where EPLF producers reached total sales of more than 29 million m⊃2; for 2017 (prev. year 27 million m⊃2;), thereby gaining an increase over the previous year of around 8.7 %. The largest growth in Asia in 2017 was accounted for by the important Chinese market including Hong Kong; sales there came to projected 9.6 million m⊃2; (prev. year 8.6 million m⊃2;), which equates to a rise of 10.8 % compared to the previous year. The EPLF sees good potential also in the market of Kazakhstan, which was first reported in 2016, with 3.6 million m2 sold in 2017 (prev. year 2.8 million m2), and an increase of 39 %. Meanwhile Israel reached 2.2 million m⊃2; (prev. year 2.4 million m2), the figure for Saudi Arabia was stable at 2.7 million m⊃2; (prev. year 2.7 million m2), and for Taiwan it was nearly 1.8 million m2 (prev. year 1.6 million m2) and an increase of 18 %. 

Latin America gained 3 % in 2017 with 17.7 million m⊃2; (prev. year: 17 million m⊃2;). The sales figures in the largest single market of Chile rose by 4.6 % in comparison with the previous year at 7.7 million m⊃2; (prev. year 7.3 million m⊃2;). Mexico recorded 4.3 million m⊃2; (prev. year: 4.3 million m⊃2;), Columbia registered 1.6 million m⊃2; (prev. year: 1.5 million m⊃2;) and Argentina’s figures rose again to 2.2 million m⊃2; (prev. year: 1.4 million m⊃2;).