Still on a growth curve

Although a downswing in the laminate flooring market was expected in the first four months of 2005, sales levelled off in the second and third quarters and had consolidated by the end of the year. The annual trend extrapolation from the EPLF’s internal sales figures based on the first three quarters of 2005 shows the following results:The 21 member companies of the EPLF sold 456 mio m² of laminate flooring “made in Europe” throughout the world in 2005 (previous year: 437 mio m²). This amounts to an increase of almost 4.5 per cent in global market sales. The association estimates that member companies account for an overall share of around 60 per cent of the world market. While western Europe, the traditional sales market for member companies, saw only a slight rise in 2005 at a figure of 269 mio m² (previous year: 267 mio m²), the eastern European market was able to record good growth. The laminate flooring market in eastern Europe rose from 68 mio m² in 2004 to 77 mio m² in 2005, thus achieving growth of 14 per cent. Heading the field is Poland at 21.5 mio m², followed by the Russian Federation at 12 mio m², Romania at 11 mio m² and Hungary at 6 mio m². This indicates that the preceding year’s trend is continuing.Notwithstanding the positive tendency in eastern Europe, the west European markets still remained the most important sales markets for the EPLF member companies in 2005. The German market shows no change over the previous year, remaining stable at 84 mio m², which means it is still the largest individual market in Europe. Britain is on the decline, with a total of 41 mio m² (previous year: 49 mio m²), though it remains in second place on the ranking list of the main west European markets. France has gained ground and now occupies third place with a total of 38 mio m² (previous year: 36 mio m²), while the Netherlands market remains on last year’s level at 20 mio m², putting it in fourth place.North America continued to demonstrate strong growth in 2005, with overall sales up from 79 mio m² in 2004 to 86 mio m², which amounts to an increase of nine per cent. The US market accounted for the lion’s share of sales at 67 mio m² (previous year: 60 mio m²), an increase of 12 per cent. But the South American market is also growing: 10 mio m² (previous year: 7.9 mio m²) were sold during 2005 in the countries of Latin America.The Asian markets were unable to record any growth in 2005, with sales there fluctuating around 8.5 mio m² (previous year: 9.5 mio…