The European Federation of the Parquet Industry (FEP), which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, is due to issue a statement about the current market situation in Europe.
The report follows a meeting last October when members reviewed the present position.
It was agreed that in France the market tendency remains positive, though at a lower rate than in 2004, while in the Nordic countries the Scandinavian economy is quite good, as is the parquet market with a strong increase of solid flooring in Sweden.
Market development remains disappointing in Germany, but in Austria, Italy and Switzerland volumes have increased by about 3-5% overall in the face of strong competition.
In Belgium there are differences between the north and south of the country, but the Netherlands is rated as stable. Ongoing construction activity in Spain led to a 5% increase in consumption in the country in the first half of 2005.
Meanwhile, FEP plans to set up a consumer-oriented website to provide information on parquet and wood flooring. It is hoped to launch the site at the 50th General Assembly in Wiesbaden on May 26.
FEP’s marketing group also wants to look at the possibility of producing a label or logo which will demonstrate the “wooden credentials” of members’ products.
