The European Parquet Federation (FEP)’s board of directors met last month and discussed the parquet situation in the European markets.
Parquet markets fell in all FEP countries during the first semester 2023 compared to the same period last year. Reported decreases range from 15 percent to 38 percent. The organization cites the main reason as the low activity in the construction sector for both new buildings and renovation. FEP says construction activity is hampered by uncertainties and high interest rates, which are not sufficient to contain inflation. Both European and imported parquet are impacted. Meanwhile, there is still a demand for cheap alternatives to real wood flooring.
As construction output is not expected to upturn soon and as parquet is coming at the end of the building process, improvements are not forecast before the end of 2024. Read the full report here.
The FEP’s 68th General Assembly and 48th Parquet Congress are scheduled for June 13-14, 2024 in Vienna, Austria.