The EPLF home market of Western Europe fell slightly in 2019, although some Western European countries reported positive figures. Eastern Europe also delivered strong figures, while overseas sales experienced a setback. North America has returned to a normal level, slowed down by a double-digit reduction in Canada but offset by a boom in the USA.
In Western Europe total sales in 2019 reached 219 million m². A decline of 2.1 % compared to the previous year. Germany remains the most important single market in Central Europe with 50 million m². France comes in second in Europe, improving by 1.1 % in 2019 to 36.5 million m². Great Britain sold 32.6 million m² in 2019, an increase of 9.5 %, ranking third in Western European sales ahead of the Netherlands, where sales improved by 1.4% to 18.6 million m². Spain increased by 1.4% to 16.7 million m².
Eastern Europe is on a clear upward trend with 135 million m². Russia reported 43.8 million m², a growth rate of 11.4 %. Poland grew 6.1% to 31.2 million m². Ukraine moved into third place in the region, increasing 32.5% to 10.1 million m². Romania and Hungary follow with 10 million m² and 7 million m² respectively.
Elsewhere in the world: Asia fell by 6%; Latin America declined 15.2%; Africa recorded a decline of 2.1%.
