Countertops: Europe

Countertops: Europe

This report forecasts to 2028 countertop demand in square meters and countertop demand and production in nominal US dollars at the manufacturer level in Europe. Total demand in square meters is segmented by material in terms of: laminate; solid surface and other cast polymers; natural stone; engineered stone; porcelain slab/sintered stone; and small volume materials such as tile, concrete, and wood (butcher block). Total demand in square meters is also segmented by market as follows: new residential, residential remodeling, new nonresidential, and nonresidential remodeling.

To illustrate historical trends, total demand in square meters is provided in annual series from 2013 to 2023; total demand and production by value, and the various demand segments in square meters are reported at five-year intervals for 2013, 2018, and 2023.

A countertop (sometimes referred to as a bench top or work top) is the firm, flat, horizontal work surface on top of a counter, generally at waist level. Countertops are mostly found in kitchens and bathrooms but can be used in any work area. For purposes of this report, edging and backsplashes used in conjunction with countertops are also included.

Tile made from metal and glass (including bronze, copper, glass, iron, nickel, pewter, stainless steel, tin, and zinc) are included under tile demand numbers for purposes of this report and not under the material type.

Stone tiles differ from stone slabs in that natural stone tiles are generally sold in thin one-foot squares, while stone slabs are much thicker and heavier, and there are grout lines in stone tile counters.

Integrated sinks are included in demand if they feature functional counter space on either side of the sink (only the counter space itself is included in the countertop estimate – the sink itself is excluded). If the integrated sink only features a small edge or lip, the entire integrated sink is excluded.

Excluded from the scope of this report are: recycled materials, including completely recycled materials, partially recycled materials, or reclaimed materials, such as tiles salvaged from other countertop installations (since no new tiles must be produced); materials used as wall coverings; countertops used in applications other than residential and nonresidential buildings – such as in recreational vehicles, ships, and boats; and surfaces installed on tables, rolling utility carts, and other furniture.

For the purposes of this report, all data including countertop demand, pricing, and market share is measured at the materials level.

Key macroeconomic indicators are also provided with quantified trends. Other various topics, including profiles of pertinent leading companies, are covered in this report. A full outline of report items by page is available in the Table of Contents.