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34    FOCUS                                                                       JUL/AUG 2024 FDM ASIA | www.fdmasia.com






         Decorative Concrete Kingdom                         (EUDR) is likely to play a particularly significant role in future
                                                             procurement practices.
                                                                In global terms, Europe has lost ground to emerging
                                                             markets in furniture production and consumption in recent

                                                             years. However, it remains the world’s third-largest market
                                                             after Asia Pacific and North America.
                                                                 With more than 230 million households, a relatively high
                                                             level of per capita consumption, and annual retail furniture
                                                             sales of EUR165 billion, Europe accounts for over a quarter
                                                             of the global world furniture market.
                                                                This is according to the latest edition of the World Furniture
                                                             Magazine published by CSIL, the Italian furniture industry
          Production centre for sport flooring               research organisation.

          Driven by the development of sports and the rise of a national   A key feature of the European furniture sector, according to
          fitness craze demand for sports flooring has expanded away   CSIL, is that it is characterised by an exceptionally high level
          from only competitive sports arenas into individual’s exercise   of business-to-business trade concentration and integration:
          areas.                                             as much as three quarters of cross-border furniture trade
            Sales of sport flooring have been increasing and a new   worldwide occurs between European countries where there
          market with potential for the flooring industry has emerged.   is a robust intra-regional trade network.
            At present, there are 120 wood sports flooring production   And unlike in the US where a large share of furniture

          enterprises in Fushun City accounting for 60 percent of the   production has been relocated to China, Southeast Asia and
          number of domestic enterprises engaged in this sector.   Mexico, 80 percent of current demand in Europe continues
            The production and sales of sports floor reached six   to be met by European manufacturers.
          million  square  metres  accounting  for  about  60  percent  of   As elsewhere in the world, Europe’s furniture market
          the domestic market. Fushun City won the title of "China   exhibited robust growth during the pandemic in 2021 as
          Sports Floor Industry Base" in 2023 becoming the only city   consumers spent heavily to improve their home environment,
          in China to win this honour.                       establish home offices, and improve outside space.
            Sports flooring is mainly solid wood flooring and solid   Economic support measures in the immediate aftermath of
          composite wood flooring. The species used for sports flooring   the pandemic continued to fuel the boom into 2022, but the

          are mainly pine, oak, maple and birch.             market decelerated rapidly in 2023. According to the latest
                                                             figures from CSIL, the overall value of furniture consumption
          EUROPE                                             in Europe contracted by 3.5 percent last year.
          Rethinking strategy for Europe’s furniture sector     CSIL note that the European furniture sector has faced
          Europe continues to perform a key role in the global furniture   a multitude of challenges since the pandemic outbreak with
          trade and industry, but that role is shifting as European   disruptions along the entire value chain.
          operators seek to reduce risk by shortening supply chains   Since 2023, the rising cost of living has intensified pressure

          and with introduction of new environmental regulations.   on consumer spending, particularly for big-ticket items such
            For  wooden furniture,  the  EU  Deforestation Regulation   as furniture. At the same time, major logistical challenges,
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