The Trend on European Parquet Markets in Recent Months Has Tended to Weaken Slightly

According to estimates made by the Federation of the European Parquet Industry (FEP), the trend on European parquet markets in recent months has tended to weaken slightly. At its last meeting on 17 October in Brussels, the federation's executive board made a slight downward correction again to the estimates made in mid April. At that time, a positive trend had still been considered likely in Germany, Austria, Norway and Finland. That estimate has now been adhered to only for Germany, Austria and also for Switzerland. In contrast, for Norway and Finland, the FEP now considers stagnation likely. A tendency to stagnation had already been forecast in April for the whole of 2012 for France, Belgium, Denmark and Sweden. However, the FEP now reckons that decline is more probable in those countries. The downward trend in the Netherlands, Italy and Spain continues. In its latest market estimates the association's executive board therefore sees the likelihood of a rather negative trend for seven of the twelve countries in 2012. From today's perspective, two countries will close out 2012 with figures approximately at the level seen in 2011. The FEP currently considers that only the three DACH countries could conceivably show slight growth, although the trend in those markets has also slowed in comparison to the situation seen in the first half of the year. Source: euwid-wood-products