Countertop Swing In China

  The report, from Cleveland-based The Fredonia Group, values the 2010 Chinese countertop market at ¥26.7 billion ($3.39 billion), with growth fueled by new housing completions and kitchen- and bath-remodeling expenditures. The ongoing trend toward larger kitchens and more bathrooms in new construction will further contribute to gains.
  The hot material – somewhat surprisingly – for the Chinese market is solid surface, according to the study. In 2000, solid surface materials represented only three percent of all newly installed residential countertops in China; by 2010, demand for solid surface will account for nearly half the total.
  Solid-surface gains will come with declining prices, coupled with the perception of durability, renewability, attractive appearance and minimal maintenance requirements.
  Engineered stone, introduced into the Chinese market in 2002, will also gain, although not as quickly, according to the study. Quartz-surface prices are dropping quickly enough to make it an attractive option.
  In terms of volume, natural stone – the second-largest segment in 2010 – will advance less than two percent per year, and laminates will grow less than three percent per year. Demand for tile will remain flat at 14 million m² (150.6 million ft²). All of these materials will lose market share to the more-popular solid-surface and engineered-stone materials.
  Most countertops in China are installed in connection with the construction of new housing, with this market segment accounting for more than 70 percent of volume in 2005. However, demand will continue to grow faster in the Chinese remodeling market, advancing more than 10 percent per year and exceeding 30 million m² (322.9 million²)in 2010.