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::: PARQUET IN EUROPE: a silver lining on the horizon?
FROM THE ASSOCIATIONS of Federica Fiorellini
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At the end
of January, FEP
estimated that
total consumption
of wooden
flooring
in EU/EFTA
countries amounts
to roughly
95 million m˛.
After two years
of hard work,
the overall picture
seems to point
to a gradual
improvement.
After two hard years, during
which parquet producers in
the EU saw a significant fall
in sales, FEP (the European Federation
of the Parquet Industry)
forecast a gradual but steady improvement
in a note at the end of
January 2011.
This positive outlook is based on
the preliminary information received
from its members, who reported
that consumption on the
European market had stabilised in
2010. There is also cautious optimism
about production levels,
which seems to be stabilising.
Of course, we must stress that the
upward curve is not stable and
that performance differs from
country to country. It is encouraging
to see that there has been a
positive “rebound”
in Germany
and gradual
consolidation in
France, while the
situation in Spain
is still worrying,
even though a few
signs of improvement
are slowly
being seen.
According to the
data available at the time of writing, total consumption
in the EU/EFTA area
can be estimated at roughly 95
million m˛.
However it is still too early to
claim victory, as FEP would point
out: the high cost of energy, the
alarmingly high unemployment
levels in certain countries and difficulties
in sourcing raw materials
are still matters of great concern.
::: APPOINTMENT IN CROAZIA
More detailed facts and figures on
market trends will be made
known during the 55th General
Assembly of the European Federation
of the Parquet Industry,
which will take place at the same
time as the 36th European Parquet
Congress on 26 & 27 May in
Dubrovnik, on the Croatian coast.
On this occasion FEP shall, among
other things, unveil the results of
a new study on European Consumers,
their perceptions and expectations
with regard to wooden
flooring: an in-depth analysis of
the parquet market in Member States
in the aftermath of the global
economic and financial crisis
that has hit our sector so hard, as
well as the general economy.
::: ABOUT FEP
The European Federation of the Parquet Industry (FEP) reunites
European national parquet federations, parquet manufacturers
and suppliers to the industry. It is the main body representing
and defending the interests of the European parquet industries
towards the European authorities.
The primary goal of FEP is to strengthen and improve the position
of wood flooring against other floor covering products as
well as to enhance the growth, prosperity and stature of the
European parquet manufacturing industry - thereby protecting
its interests and reinforcing its image.
The activities of FEP are situated in the areas of raw material
supply, production, market and internal affairs.
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