Total EU imports of wood flooring declined 14.5% in volume terms during 2012, however imports held up well in value terms.
The total value of wood flooring imports in 2012 was Euro 462 million, a slight gain on Euro 461 million the previous year and not far short of the record level of Euro 487 million in 2008.
China is by far the largest external supplier of wood flooring to the EU. In 2012, the EU imported 21.25 million m2 of wood flooring with a value of Euro 301 million from China. While the volume of wood flooring imports from China fell by 13% in 2012, the value actually increased by 4.3%. China’s share of overall EU wood flooring imports has been rising in recent years, from around 51% of volume in 2009 to over 60% in 2012. China’s share of import value increased from 54% to 65% during the same period.
Most Chinese wood flooring is imported into the EU through Belgium, UK, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, and Sweden. A significant proportion is likely to be re-exported from some of these countries (notably Belgium, Netherlands and Sweden).
The value of Chinese wood flooring imports increased last year into Belgium (+4% to Euro 54.5 million), UK (+27% to Euro 54.1 million), Germany (+39% to Euro 36.8 million), and Sweden (+81% to Euro 34.2 million). However, import value declined into Italy (-17% to Euro 36.2), Netherlands (-12% to Euro 35.7 million) and France (-42% to Euro 15.9 million).
Quarterly data reveals that EU27 wood flooring imports fell sharply in the last quarter of 2012, with a particularly large decline in imports from China. This is probably due to the mounting economic uncertainty in Europe and the sharp decline in construction activity during the winter months.
It is also possible that the imminent imposition of the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) discouraged purchasing of Chinese wood flooring due to the complex supply chain and difficulties of securing legality documentation. However, the impact of EUTR will only really become apparent with publication of 2013 trade data.
