Sales of insulating glass and rock wools reached EUR 226.6 million in 2007, up 17% on 2006, according to the Association of Spanish Insulating Wool Manufacturers (Afelma). The association said 5 June 2008 that sales were in line with forecasts for 2007 which indicated a good year for mineral insulating wools in spite of the symptoms of slowdown visible in housebuilding. The decline in house starts was partially offset by the application of new building regulations on energy efficiency, safety and sound abatement. For 2008, Afelma sees acceptable performance from mineral insulating wools in spite of the sudden fall in house starts thanks to the profitability and added value of mineral insulating wools in new construction in the service sector, which has not been hit as heavily as residential by the crisis.
