Increase in production of laminate flooring

The laminate flooring business of EPLF members developed really positively in the year 2002, even though international economic activity continued downward and there was no slowing down in the structural changes being made to international trade. The annual analysis of the association’s internal sales information system confirms an appreciable increase in the production of laminate flooring in Europe for the year 2002.
EPLF members' sales by region 2002
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The 21 members of the EPLF sold 334 mio m² of laminate flooring throughout the world in 2002 (cf. 20 members and 274 mio m² in 2001). This reveals an increase of 60 mio m² in members’ European production. The west European market, which has traditionally seen EPLF members’ strongest sales, succeeded in notching up a rise of 36 mio m² to 202 mio m² (previous year: 166 mio m²). Which means this market claims a 60 per cent share of total sales.
EPLF members' sales within Western Europe 2002
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As in the previous year, the top spots were occupied by Germany (at 59 mio m²), the United Kingdom (45 mio m²), France (29 mio m²) and the Netherlands (16 mio m²), i.e. these four markets accounted for a 74 per cent share of the volume sold in Europe overall. Growth of 54 mio m² was recorded in the combined European laminate flooring market for the year 2002.
The ELPF members increased their production by 20 per cent in 2002.
Contrary to expectations and medium-term trend forecasts, sales in the Asia-Pacific region rose slightly again for a total of 20 mio m² (previous year: 18 mio m²). The cause of this development was the opening up of new markets, leading to a gain in market shares in Asia. The individual markets of Turkey and South Korea must be highlighted here. In China, on the other hand, sales figures for products from Europe continued to decline in 2002. This is attributed to the growing number of production facilities and joint ventures set up by EPLF members on the spot, whose output is not included in these sales statistics.
Laminate flooring market in Germany
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The North American market appeared stable in 2002, levelling off at the previous year’s total, and recording a slight rise of 3 mio m2 for a total of 58 mio m². (previous year: 55 mio m²). Eastern Europe saw unusually positive progress in 2002, with sales by EPLF members increasing from 28 mio m² in 2001 to 46 mio m² in 2002. Some high rates of growth were achieved particularly in smaller markets like Hungary, Romania…