World Flooring & Carpet - Demand to Rise Nearly 5% Annually Through 2018

World demand to rise nearly 5% annually through 2018

Through 2018, global demand for floor coverings is forecast to grow to over 19 billion square meters on annual gains of nearly five percent, an improvement from the rate of the 2008-2013 period. In value terms, flooring and carpet demand is forecast to rise over seven percent annually to $325 billion in 2018. Expected rebounds in housing construction in higher-income countries, including the US and some in Western Europe, will boost floor covering demand. In less developed countries, flooring and carpet demand will benefit from continued strong growth in building construction activity and rising per capita incomes that will allow households to purchase more expensive floor coverings. In addition, increasing motor vehicle production in many areas will boost demand for flooring and carpets.

North America to exhibit fastest growth in demand

Overall, the most rapid demand growth through 2018 is projected for North America. An expected housing market recovery in the US will be the primary driver of demand in this region, with demand for floor coverings in residential buildings forecast to rise more than seven percent per year through 2018. The Asia/ Pacific region is expected to register the second fastest advances in floor covering demand through 2018. China alone is forecast to account for over one-third of new flooring and carpet demand generated during this time, strengthening its position as the largest floor covering market in the world.

Dominant nonresilient flooring to grow the fastest

Floor covering consumption patterns vary greatly across the world. For instance, in 2013 ceramic tile accounted for approximately one-half of total demand in the Asia/Pacific region and Central and South America, while carpets and rugs predominated in North America. Resilient flooring saw its greatest penetration in Eastern Europe, where it accounted for one-third of regional floor covering demand in 2013. Worldwide,...