Based on information obtained from its member companies and national associations, FEP – the European Federation of the Parquet industry - estimates that the overall consumption figures on the European parquet market for the year 2020 are stable.
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 online. FEP underlines that this is a first prognosis subject to variations, in anticipation of the complete data to be communicated by FEP next June.
After a year 2019 characterised by a moderate growth, the consumption figures of parquet in Europe remained stable in 2020 despite the pandemic. A flat evolution is forecasted for the year as a whole. As usual, the results show variations from country to country, also reflecting the evolution of the illness and the related governmental measures in the different Member States.
Austria, Sweden, Switzerland, and, to a lesser extent, Spain, have totally, or partially, compensated, during the second half of the year, the bad performance observed in March-April. Still on the positive side, parquet consumption in Germany, the biggest European parquet market, has grown further also driven by renovation.
On the other hand, despite a good summer and a good renovation rate, France and Italy have not been able to offset the loss experienced during the spring lockdown and report declines in parquet consumption.
While there are uncertainties for the future regarding the potential impacts of a third wave, the restart of travels thanks to vaccines and the long-term economic consequences of the pandemic (recession, reduced public spending and decline in new projects), some habits have changed and this crisis also represents an opportunity for the Parquet Industry, which has already well benefitted from the increase of the renovation rate and of its relatively higher use of wood flooring solutions.
It seems that not only the European authorities have now understood the positive role played by wood and wood products to tackle climate change by saving CO2, but the end-consumers as well, bringing nature into their homes!
FEP General Assembly & Parquet Congress 2021
Due to the current circumstances related to the pandemic, the physical FEP’s 65 th General Assembly and 45 th Parquet Congress are postponed to 21 & 22 October 2021 (tbc) in the antic city of Athens, Greece. FEP is already looking forward to welcoming all members, international guests and press representatives at this exclusive and awaited event for the Parquet Industry.
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