Worktop market drops by 10% in 2009

22 February 2010

The kitchen and bathroom worktop market was hit hard by the 2008 and 2009 downturn, with sales falling by up to 16%, according to a new report.

The kitchen worktop market, around 90% of the total worktop sector, showed steady growth between 2000 and 2007 but the decline in housebuilding and then consumer spending as the country's financial condition got worse, saw a sharp drop in 2008 and 2009.

The report, from AMA Research, says that in 2007 the market was worth £190 million but fell by 5% in 2008, and then a further 10% in 2009 to hit £162m.

"[This is] mainly as a result of the declining economic environment, the deferral of high ticket purchases by consumers, contraction in the housebuilding sector, a severe reduction in the number of house purchases and the high level of price competition," the report says.

The gradual switch to more premium materials such as granite resulted in stronger growth by value in the mid 2000s but, the report says, the latest findings indicate a slight move away from these as consumers trade downwards to less expensive alternatives - laminates, for example, still continue to dominate the market with a 54% share.

The bathroom worktop market has shown growth although it remains a small sector of the overall bathroom sanitaryware and furniture market - about 10%. Its value is forecast decline by around 8% in 2009 to reach £11m, having already fallen by the same amount in 2008.

The value has grown, AMA says, thanks to the increasing popularity of bathroom furniture and more expensive materials."In the housing market there has been growth in the number of second bathroom, the installation of en suite facilities and the number of properties with additional cloakrooms," the report says. "But it has also benefited from the use of more expensive materials, such as solid surface products, integrated basins and to a lesser extent granite."

For more details on the report see www.amaresearch.co.uk.

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Worktop market drops by 10% in 2009	Back
22 February 2010 The kitchen and bathroom worktop market was hit hard by the 2008 and 2009 downturn, with sales falling by up to 16%, according to a new report. The kitchen worktop market, around 90% of the total worktop sector, showed steady growth between 2000 and 2007 but the decline in housebuilding and then consumer spending as the country's financial condition got worse, saw a sharp drop in 2008 and 2009. The report, from AMA Research, says that in 2007 the market was worth £190 million but fell by 5% in 2008, and then a further 10% in 2009 to hit £162m. "[This is] mainly as a result of the declining economic environment, the deferral of high ticket purchases by consumers, contraction in the housebuilding sector, a severe reduction in the number of house purchases and the high level of price competition," the report says. The gradual switch to more premium materials such as granite resulted in stronger growth by value in the mid 2000s but, the report says, the latest findings indicate a slight move away from these as consumers trade downwards to less expensive alternatives - laminates, for example, still continue to dominate the market with a 54% share. The bathroom worktop market has shown growth although it remains a small sector of the overall bathroom sanitaryware and furniture market - about 10%. Its value is forecast decline by around 8% in 2009 to reach £11m, having already fallen by the same amount in 2008. The value has grown, AMA says, thanks to the increasing popularity of bathroom furniture and more expensive materials."In the housing market there has been growth in the number of second bathroom, the installation of en suite facilities and the number of properties with additional cloakrooms," the report says. "But it has also benefited from the use of more expensive materials, such as solid surface products, integrated basins and to a lesser extent granite." For more details on the report see www.amaresearch.co.uk.