Double-digit growth in demand for laminate flooring taxed the ability of the industry to keep pace last year, according to the European Producers of Laminate Flooring (EPLF).
The association’s 20 members produced 243 million m² of material in 2000, just managing to track demand running 58% ahead of the previous year. The EPLF’s members produced 131.9 million m² in 1999.
The EPLF says that its members sold 162 million m² in Europe, equating to a market share of 77%. The Asia-Pacific region saw demand rising from 46 to 65 million m² during 2000 with 24 million m² supplied by EPLF members. The North American market saw demand grow to 50 million m², 29 million m² from EPLF producers.
The UK, Germany and France absorbed two-thirds of the laminate flooring sales, followed by the Netherlands, Belgium and Austria.
To underpin the development of the market, the EPLF is working towards the launch of a global quality standard for laminate flooring within the framework of ISO. The organisation was instrumental in the creation of the European standard, EN13329, which it says has already had a positive impact. It is holding talks on the ISO standard with the American laminate flooring industry association NALFA.
