Changzhou Inktek Decorative Materials Co., Ltd

The sales of laminate flooring in China are stimulated by a series of positive factors. With the improvement in living standards and people's yearning for elegant life, the share of laminate flooring in China's flooring industry has been rising. COVID-19 has disrupted the global supply chain of major products. China is one of the largest consumers and producers and also meets the needs of many countries by exporting a variety of inputs mainly used in the production of finished laminate flooring. China's production was forced to stop and suffered huge losses. This led to a supply-demand gap and an expansion of the product market. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the market has been under pressure since mid-February 2020, the construction of housing and construction projects has been restricted, and the lockdown restrictions have forced the production of laminate flooring products to stop, resulting in a decline in sales of flooring products in the overall Chinese market. Laminate flooring refers to a multi-layer synthetic flooring product consisting of a wear layer, a design layer, a core layer, and a backing layer sealed together through a lamination process. The upper layer usually contains melamine and aluminum oxide, which helps to provide a scratch-resistant and moisture-resistant surface for the laminate. Compared with engineered wood, solid hardwood, and stone floor coverings, laminate flooring is cheap and easy to install and maintain. The demand for laminate flooring in China is increasing as it comes in different widths, lengths, and thicknesses and can replicate different surfaces including wood, stone, and tiles. Laminate flooring is the mainstay of my country's wood flooring industry. After two decades of development, China's laminate flooring industry has formed a relatively complete system and has become one of the major producers and consumers of laminate flooring. The demand for laminate flooring may be due to a variety of factors. One of the important factors is the rapid growth of the construction industry. Urbanization, industrialization, and changes in lifestyle have led to increased construction activities in emerging countries such as China. Several initiatives are being taken to revive and renovate different educational and public buildings, thereby promoting the sales of laminate flooring. Growing environmental concerns over the use of wood and new technological innovations will continue to stimulate demand in the coming years. The flooring manufacturing industry has been one of the industries most affected by the new crown pneumonia (COVID-19) for more than a year, and manufacturers' raw material orders have been in trouble due to the lockdown that has had a major impact on the logistics industry. All these factors have limited the growth of the laminate flooring industry during the pandemic.

China Laminate Flooring Market Trends

1) The Residential Sector Occupies a Major Market Share

The residential segment of China's laminate flooring market has been occupying a major market share as consumer dynamics change. Manufacturers are able to recreate the authenticity of hardwood with laminate, allowing end users to enjoy the classic look of wood with greater durability and often at a lower price. Overall, the wood grain look remains the most popular laminate design. The number of customers choosing laminate flooring is increasing due to its advantages such as thermal performance and temperature adaptability, ease of installation, cleaning and long-term maintenance, and the rich aesthetics that the flooring provides. Aesthetic features are also expanding its market share to exterior applications.

2) Manufacturer-Owned Stores Are the Most Popular Distribution Channel

Laminate flooring can be purchased from retail stores and even the Internet, but there are no buying groups or home centers that promote laminate flooring in China. Most retail stores are owned by laminate flooring manufacturers, who also install and repair the flooring. China's retail channels are very fragmented, with the 50 largest retailers accounting for less than 5% of the total market. When it comes to purchasing laminate flooring, the country has many retail options. A major factor that influences where to buy flooring is that flooring is considered a building material rather than a home decor and is often grouped with plumbing fixtures and lighting fixtures. Laminate flooring manufacturer-owned stores and home product/design malls are the largest flooring retailers in China. Manufacturer stores can be stand-alone units or showrooms located within large multi-story structures where other home products such as plumbing and lighting fixtures are sold. These are the most preferred channels for purchasing flooring products in China.

3) China Laminate Flooring Industry Segmentation

Laminate flooring (also known as floating wood flooring in the United States) is a multi-layer synthetic flooring product fused together through a lamination process. Laminate flooring simulates wood (sometimes stone) with a photographic decal layer under a transparent protective layer. The report covers a complete background analysis of the China laminate flooring market, including an assessment of the laminate flooring market, emerging trends in the market segments and regional markets, major changes in market dynamics, and a market overview. The report also provides qualitative and quantitative assessments by analyzing data collected from industry analysts and market participants at key points of the industry value chain. The China laminate flooring market is segmented by product type (HDF laminate flooring and MDF laminate flooring), end-user (residential and commercial), and distribution channel (offline stores and online stores).