DIY power tools lose 6.6 per cent in France

The French market for hand-held power tools declined by 2 per cent last year. After the exceptionally positive year of 2021, this was followed by a decline of 9 per cent in 2022. In the DIY segment (excluding e-commerce) the decline was as much as 6.6 per cent compared to the previous year. Battery-powered appliances fared comparatively well here with a drop of 4 per cent. Their market share has risen from 47 per cent in 2019 to 54 per cent. These figures were published by the French association of tool and consumables manufacturers Secimpac (Syndicat des entreprises internationales de l'outillage portatif et des consommables).

Sales in the professional segment fell by 2.5 per cent, but remain above the pre-pandemic level. For garden and forestry equipment, the association reports a 5 per cent drop in sales; in 2022, sales in this segment had increased by 2.4 per cent in 2021 and by as much as 24 per cent. Although online sales in this area have increased by 15 per cent, their market share remains comparatively low at 7 per cent.

According to a press release from Secimpac, the markets remained tight at the start of the year, but stock levels have been reduced to a normal level. Overall, the market continued the trend from the fourth quarter of 2023 in the first quarter.