The European production of kitchen furniture increased by 5.4% in 2015 to approximately 5.5 million units. Around 0.9 million units were exported, primarily from Germany and Italy, while 0.7 million units were imported. Consumption of kitchen furniture in the EU was around 5.3 million units in 2015, up 5%. Production is growing in the mid-lower and mid-upper price segments, while the low-end, middle, upper-end, and luxury segments have remained stable. Low-end kitchens account for around 2 million units annually.

1. ly explain why mid-low end is growing (and
the opposite is true for the mid-end of the mar-
ket): today a 5 thousand Eur kitchen (retail
price, including appliances) can be compara-
ble, in terms of quality (both ‘perceived’ and
‘real’) with a 6-7 thousand Eur kitchen sold a
few years ago.
Upper-end and luxury kitchens have refer-
ence prices of 6000-8000 Eur (factory
price) and 20,000-27,000 (retail price),
he European production of kitchen furni-
ture (16 Western European countries)
amounts to approximately 5,5 million
units in 2015, with a +5,4% increase in com-
parison with the previous year. Approximately
0,9 million units are exported (export mainly
originates from Germany and Italy), while 0,7
million units are imported (the 0,2 million unit
difference is approximately the amount of
European kitchens exported to Middle East,
Russia, China, India, and the United States).
Consumption of kitchen furniture in EU-16
amounts to around 5,3 million units (+5,0%
increase) for the year 2015. Booming export
is driven by overseas sales.
Production is growing mainly in the mid-lower
and mid-upper segments, while the low-end
(with some new entry of players from China
and East Europe), the middle, upper-end and
luxury-end of the market are somewhat stable
(overseas growth of upper-end and luxury-
end kitchens is not enough to balance the ‘low
profile’ of the European market nowadays).
Low-end kitchens amount to about 2 million
units (to be added some 300 thousand
kitchens of extra-Western European produc-
tion). It is worth noting that the trend of IKEA
sales is moving from low-end to mid-low (it is
true also for some chains in the United
Kingdom).
New technologies and reduced mark-up part-
www.worldfurnitureonline.com 35WF • June 2016
FOCUS
MARKETS
KITCHEN & BATHROOM
EUROPEAN KITCHEN
FURNITURE MARKET
MARKING A 5% GROWTH
T
respectively. Together, they amount to about
350 thousand units. In value terms, upper-end
and luxury-end weight for over 20% in
Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. It weights for
10% or less in Greece, Ireland, Spain,
Portugal.
Average price of kitchens is around 3000 Eur
in Germany, 2500 Eur in Italy, 2000 Eur in
most of other European countries.
by Aurelio Volpe
CSIL International Market Research
Booth LEICHT
at Eurocucina 2016.
Booth TEAM 7 at Eurocucina 2016.
EUROPEAN KITCHEN FURNITURE MARKET MARKING A 5% GROWTH.