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– The positive trend in order receipts among German and Austrian manufacturers of furniture function fittings largely continued in May, June and July. Growth was seen in virtually all sales countries and all sales channels. As a result of the higher number of working days in the individual months in 2011 in comparison to those for 2010, May was mostly significantly better than a year ago, while June showed a year-on-year decline in some cases. The poorer employment situation in parts of the German furniture industry and also among some furniture manufacturers in neighbouring countries from June briefly resulted in a softening of demand. However, as early as June, order receipts showed a considerable year-on-year improvement and cumulative figures achieved by major fittings producers for the whole year so far show significant growth rates.
In spite of the good order situation, fittings suppliers have recently expressed only mild satisfaction with the course of business and medium-term prospects. Manufacturers of furniture function fittings are predominantly very internationally oriented and export their products worldwide. Companies were accordingly strongly affected by the worldwide economic collapse in 2009. Fittings producers estimate that the current uncertainty on financial markets and a potentially consequential renewed downturn in the world economy could again have negative effects on the furniture-suppliers’ sector. Individual markets such as Spain and the USA have not yet recovered from the last economic decline. There is also a fierce price war, in particular in the USA, but also in other sales markets, making it more difficult to pass on higher material costs to buyers.
There have been no further price hikes for input materials during the summer months but costs are mostly substantially higher than in 2010. There could be renewed price rises in the autumn. For that reason, another major fittings producer has announced autumn price hikes in the lower to mid single-figure percentage range. Companies which had already started to introduce higher prices in the spring claim to have suffered losses in market shares. Most market participants have continued to make only selective price hikes. Other fittings producers have taken a wait-and-see stance so far, but assume that they will also have to react with price rises by the end of the year.
31.08.2011
Roundwood/Sawnwood
- Prices for eastern Siberian larch lumber remain largely stable in August despite holiday season
- 10 % reduction registered in Russian lumber exports
- Felling in Russia in July 2011 lower than in June
- Northwest Russian spruce lumber continues to lose market shares within Central Europe
- Latvian roundwood exports increased by as much as 26.1%
- Felling practically no longer hampered by forest fires
- Finland: Growth recorded in softwood lumber output until June
- United Business Media takes over Ecobuild
- Finland: Log deliveries still below last year‘s level
- Softwood lumber shipments down in North America in the second quarter
- Further growth in softwood lumber output until March
- Brisk demand for logs keeping price situation largely stable in Austria
- Hardwood lumber markets in UNECE revived slightly in 2010
- Lumber exports recovered in second quarter 2011
- Structural panels production declined again in Q2
Wood products
Wood-based panels
- Latvian plywood exports still higher than this time in 2010
- Demand for radiata pine plywood bounces back slightly after summer holidays end
- FFIF: Finnish plywood output grew again
- North American OSB manufacturers enjoy significant increase in exports
- North American composite panels producers‘ capacity utilisation rates stay low
- Slowdown in deliveries continued in second quarter
- GreCon wood-based panels seminar in Hanover
- Demand for MDF/HDF has undergone slight post-holiday revival since mid-August
- IHD Dresden holding ninth wood-based panels colloquium
- Summer reductions push OSB prices below last year‘s level again
- Slump in German particleboard exports persists
Furniture
- Demand for bathroom furniture remained brisk in July/August
- Fittings manufacturers anticipate possible renewed downturn in export markets
- VdDK members‘ order value up 5% in first half-year 2011
- Kitchen furniture industry sales 6% up on last year until June
Building products
Construction
- Housing construction again shows satisfactory trend
- Japan: Residential building increases by 5.8 % in June
Trade
Companies
- Lammhults: Office furniture segment improves turnover
- Slovenian furniture producer Javor Pohištvo bankrupt
- Javor Group: Another subsidiary files for bankruptcy
- Alno granted initial loan of €3m by Müller‘s Comco
- Forte enjoys strong growth in Q1 revenues and profits
- Eggerath: Business operations continue with work force of 60
- Kinnarps Deutschland bundles production in Worms
- Looser: Results forecast for 2011 corrected downwards
- Klostermann Küchen still up and running for time being
- Lowe’s: Turnover and result stabilising again
- Home Depot recovers again in the second quarter
- BlueLinx: Downward trend continues in Q2
- Temple-Inland: Timber business continues to operate at a loss
- IP: Take-over offer now extended until September
- Metsäliitto: Paper activities impose a strain on result
- Start-up in Braviken imposes strain on Holmen result
- Kurekss new sawing line starts up in fourth quarter
- Södra: Fire causes stop in production at Mönsterås
- Lafarge divests itself of gypsum operations in Asia
- Delignit: Results back in the black in first half of 2011
- Rougier books slowdown in revenue growth
- Pfleiderer Grajewo improves result again
- Gascogne records increased turnover in the first half year
- Uzin Utz shows further growth in turnover and result
- Roseburg to close two plants in South Carolina
- Resopal improves turnover by 17% in first six months
- Raute back in the black in the second quarter