Global Flooring

Global Flooring

Global demand for flooring is forecast to rise 4.5% per year to 26.1 billion square meters in 2027, driven by:

• increased construction of new residential and nonresidential buildings, particularly in the Asia/Pacific region
• higher spending on improvements and repairs to existing buildings in the US and Western Europe, especially among homeowners
• greater use of finished floor coverings relative to total floor space as standards of living improve worldwide and the large US market trends toward hard surface floors rather than carpeting
• rebounding motor vehicle production, boosting demand for carpeting in automobiles

However, the declining popularity of wall-to-wall carpeting and weak new housing outlooks in North America and Western Europe will restrain stronger advances.

Performance & Aesthetics Allow Luxury Vinyl Tile to Post Strong Sales Increases

Luxury vinyl tile (LVT), including SPC and WPC products, will gain market share through 2027, a continuation of trends during the 2017-2022 period. These products are durable, mimic popular aesthetics (such as stone and ceramics), and only cost slightly more than tufted carpeting; these factors have contributed greatly to LVT’s increased popularity in the US and Europe over the past decade. The US has been the major source of growth of these products, where demand for luxury vinyl tile has risen 33% annually since 2016.

The Asia/Pacific and Africa/Mideast Regions Account for Majority of Gains

In terms of area, the Asia/Pacific and Africa/Mideast regions are forecast to collectively account for 81% of absolute gains in flooring demand through 2027, with China alone counting for 30% of growth. The massive Chinese market will rebound as building construction activity improves following lockdown-related weakness in 2022, and strong advances are expected in India and Indonesia. In particular, ongoing industrialization will spur greater demand for flooring in commercial and industrial buildings in both regions.

Rising Motor Vehicle Production Aids Demand for Carpets & Rugs

Although carpet and rug demand will be restrained by a shift away from wall-to-wall tufted carpeting in markets like the US, notable gains will be incurred as motor vehicle production improves following difficulty during the pandemic. After weathering a sizable drop in production in 2020, a combination of supply chain issues – most notably a semiconductor shortage – and high interest rates in a number of countries restrained greater output growth. With most supply chain issues having either resolved themselves or eased significantly, production is poised to grow at a rate more in line with pre-pandemic periods. As such, demand for needlepunch carpeting, which accounts for the majority of transportation demand, will improve significantly.

Study Description

This Freedonia industry study analyzes the $242 billion global flooring industry. It presents historical demand data (2012, 2017, and 2022) and forecasts (2027 and 2032) by product (carpets and rugs, resilient flooring, and nonresilient flooring), market (residential, nonresidential, transportation), application (new, remodeling) and major global region and country. Annual historical data and forecasts are also provided from 2019 to 2026. The study also evaluates company market share and competitive analysis on industry competitors including Mohawk Industries, Shaw, Tarkett, Gerflor Group, Interface, Oriental Weavers, and Engineered Floors.