Inconsistent laminate market

In 2015, worldwide sales of 452 mio m² of European-produced laminate flooring (467 mio in 2014) were reported by the 20 members of the EPLF (the association of the manufacturers of laminate flooring). The resulting minus of 3.1 per cent is relativized in view of a Turkish member having left the EPLF at the end of 2014.
Once again, growth rates varied between regions during 2015 - Western Europe (including Turkey) was somewhat weaker, whereas Eastern Europe saw a slight upturn. Figures rose positively as well in Asia, and the biggest gains were recorded in North America. EPLF laminate flooring sales in South America for 2015 also showed an upward trend.
With one Turkish member having left the EPLF, the Western European sales of the laminate flooring industry (including Turkey) fell from 282 mio m² in 2014 down to 254 mio m² in real figures in 2015, i.e. a plunge by ten per cent. In Germany - the largest single regional market in Central Europe - the substitution trend continued: The EPLF believes that a shift in favour of what is known "LVT flooring" is the reason for the decline on the German market down to around 66 mio m², showing a minus of 4.6 per cent. However, from the EPLF's point of view, the German flooring market will continue to dominate in the future by a wide margin - not only as a sales market but more than ever as the country of origin with an estimated more than 230 mio m² production volume.
Also included in the EPLF sales statistics for Western Europe is Turkey, where laminate sales for the association experienced another significant drop during 2015, showing a decline of approx. 44 per cent down to 32 mio m². The reasons behind this are complex: a major Turkish member having left the EPLF at the end of 2014, and the anti-dumping proceedings brought forward by the Turkish Ministry of Economy against some German flooring manufacturers, which ran until summer 2015, have both contributed to the decline. Another factor to be considered, according to the EPLF, is the general weakening of the Turkish economy. Despite worsening figures, Turkey remains the third-largest target market for EPLF members.
France has shown a slight downturn with 37 mio m² and in 2015 now occupies second place in Europe. The United Kingdom, despite a booming construction market, did not continue its positive upward trend for the EPLF members, showing slight losses of three per cent with a sales figure for 2015 of 31 mio m², which puts the country in a strong fourth place…