Advances will be driven in part by the consumer perception of decorative laminates as the
workhorse surfacing material, providing a low-cost, low-maintenance, durable surface.
US demand to rise 5.5%
annually through 2015
US demand for decorative laminates is
forecast to advance 5.5 percent per year
to 12.4 billion square feet in 2015, a
rebound from the declines of the 2005-
2010 period. Continued improvement in
the housing market, lower unemployment
and greater credit availability will
boost demand for laminates across the
board in all major applications: cabinets,
furniture, flooring, wall panels and
countertops. Advances will also be
driven by the consumer perception of
decorative laminates as the workhorse
surfacing material, providing a low-cost,
low-maintenance, durable surface.
Low pressure laminates to
offer best opportunities
Demand for laminates made from lowpressure
overlays, which account for
more than 80 percent of decorative
laminate sales in area terms, is forecast
to grow 5.7 percent per year through
2015. Demand will be driven by increased
penetration of saturated papers
in the high-growth flooring market,
particularly in residential settings where
the cost savings of low-pressure laminates
outweigh the durability benefits of
higher-priced high-pressure laminates.
Performance improvements in lowpressure
laminates are continuing to fuel
their adoption as a low-cost decorative
surfacing material for furniture, cabinets
and store fixtures. Demand for highpressure
laminates will continue to
benefit from their enhanced decorative
properties, long-term durability and
resistance to scratches and other types
of damage caused by wear and tear.
Cabinets, flooring to offer
best market opportunities
The cabinet market will continue to
account for the single largest share of
decorative laminates demand in 2015,
while also posting gains well above the
industry average. Decorative laminates
will largely benefit from a rebound in
cabinet production, based on an improving
US housing market, as well as
expanding export opportunities. Gains
will also be boosted by rising interest in
decorative laminates as a less costly
alternative to lumber and wood veneers
in cabinet production. Laminate developments,
such as three-dimensional
woodgrain patterns, more vibrant hues
and advanced embossing techniques,
create a surface that better resembles
various wood species at a lower cost.
The flooring market for decorative
laminates will record the most rapid
gains through 2015, fueled by improvement
in construction spending and rising
consumer interest in laminate flooring.
As a result, laminate flooring production
in the US will rebound. Decorative
laminate producers will continue to
introduce improved laminates for use in
flooring, such as those featuring enhanced
durability, and those that resemble
natural stone and tile, or exotic wood.
Study Scope
This study analyzes the 9.5 billion square foot US decorative laminate industry. It presents historical demand data for the years 2000, 2005 and 2010, and forecasts for 2015 and 2020 by raw material, manufacturing process, product (e.g., low-basis weight papers, saturated papers, vinyl films, decorative foils, high-pressure laminates, edgebanding) and market (e.g., cabinets, furniture, store fixtures, flooring, wall panels, countertops).
The study also considers marker environment factors, details industry structure, evaluates company market share and profiles 40 industry players, including Wilsonart, Formica and Panolam Industries.
