Relevant experts from the business research company Freedonia Group believe that in the next few years, the demand for kitchen and bathroom countertops in the U.S. market will be generally stable. Until 2011, the demand for countertops in the U.S. will grow at an annual rate of 1.3%. However, a February report from the Marble Institute of America (MIA) indicated that the demand was reduced by 1.5% compared with the statistics in 2006 and 2007.
Undoubtedly, in the next few years, this demand will not grow at the same rate as in the past decade. The MIA report reviewed the growth in the demand for granite countertops in recent years. If the demand for granite countertops in 1997 is set as 100, then this number surged to 867 in 2005, 715 in seven years, and 1081 in 2006. , And fell back to 1066 in 2007.
This growth mainly depends on the “consumer’s continued preference for large kitchens and multiple bathrooms.” The demand for countertops in the new studio apartment market will be “weak” as apartment prices fall and new projects are decreasing.
It is estimated that before 2011, the average annual demand will be 540 million square feet, of which the largest part will be used for the decoration of kitchen countertops, and a small part will be used for bathroom decoration. In 2006, the demand for refitting accounted for 70% of the total.
Freedonia experts predict that “engineered stone and natural stone processed countertops will gain the most profit in 2011. The advantage of engineered stone is that its heat-resistant and wear-resistant quartz surface makes its porosity extremely small. Natural stone satisfies consumers’ pursuit of luxury At the same time, as the prices of these materials fall, middle-income consumers have the ability to buy, which will further stimulate demand.
