According to an internal survey, the vdp member companies in Germany saw their parquet sales volume decrease by 4% year on year to 2.5 million m² in the first half of 2024. The value of the parquet sold fell by around 8% to €91 million. According to the survey, all segments recorded a decline in sales. vdp member companies’ sales of three-layer parquet decreased by 3.3% to 1.3 million m². As for two-layer parquet, sales were down by 5.9% to 690,000 m². Only slight losses were recorded for solid parquet, with sales falling by 1.4% to 140,000 m². Mosaic parquet sales decreased by 7.4% to 320,000 m².
“We are moving into calmer waters again,” Michael Schmid, President of the vdp, says. “The stormy times of recent years, which were characterized by double-digit decreases in sales volumes and value and massive price jumps, are over. Prices for parquet flooring have returned to normal levels. Customers no longer have to worry about paying excessive prices for parquet flooring,” Schmid says. In addition, improved consumer sentiment and a lower inflation rate give hope for an economic recovery. “If the ECB makes further cuts in the key interest rates, growth is on the horizon again, at least in the renovation market, because demand for renovations of existing buildings is still very high,” the vdp’s President emphasizes.
