According to a current study by InterConnection Consulting Group, 29.4 million PVC-U window units were sold in 2005 in the European Fenestration Market, which corresponds to a growth rate of +0.6 per cent. In terms of value the market grew by 1.6% to an amount of 6,022 million Euros.

Despite these rather unsatisfactory growth rates in 2005, the market will grow further in the upcoming years at successively increasing rates.

At present, Switzerland is one of the most dynamic countries in the Western European market for PVC-U windows with quantity growth rates of 7% and above. Ireland follows with 6.3%, and in third place, the second largest market in Europe (France) grew 6.1%. In Great Britain, the biggest market for PVC-U windows, sales volume decreased in 2005 because of a depressed construction sector and a slight market saturation in the replacement sector.

The replacement market for PVC-U windows will shrink in the long run because they simply last longer. The increasing share of PVC-U windows that are replaced (replacing the replacements) is a good indicator for this development.

Once again the market in Germany sank because of the weak construction sector. Last year it decreased by 5.7% to 5.7 million PVC-U window units per year. Nevertheless, market recovery is in sight; already in 2006, the market decrease has ceased and positive growth rates are expected again.

It is difficult to make a statement for all of Europe regarding the development of PVC-U windows, if only because of the varying image of the material and its differing prices: In Austria PVC-U is the least expensive material, but in Spain it is the most expensive.

But the most profitable niches for growth can be found more and more in faraway markets. Countries such as China, Dubai, and Brazil continue achieving double-digit growth figures for constructional elements. Further information: Interconnection Consulting,

Source

Glass Age

Postscript

e-mail: schurian@ interconnectionconsulting.com