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The Free Trade Agreement signed between the EU and India on January 27, 2026, offers significant relief for the carpet industry. Once the deal takes effect in early 2027, the current tariffs of up to 12% on Indian carpets will be completely abolished. Handmade carpets, in particular, will benefit from immediate duty-free market access, provided they are entirely produced in India. For machine-made carpets, more complex rules of origin apply.
The recent IMM Cologne (January 20–23, 2026) marked a decisive departure from the traditional furniture fair format of previous years. Following its strategic realignment, the event has transformed from a classic design showcase into a focused B2B sourcing platform. With high-end design brands largely absent and the focus shifting to the entry-level and mid-range price segments, the international presence dominated the fairgrounds. Out of a total of 339 exhibitors from 28 countries, the vast majority—252 companies—hailed from China.Domotex in Hanover, held from 19 to 22 January 2026, debuted its expanded focus on interior finishing. Although the fair was significantly smaller than in the past with around 500 exhibitors, the new concept proved to be a success: the event was well-attended and many exhibitors provided positive feedback. The reduction in floor space is also due to the fact that the rug segment, which used to fill several halls, was almost entirely absent.
The Hamburg-based online retailer Otto is expanding its Home & Living portfolio with the launch of its new private label, "Otto home". Offering over 4 million products in this segment, Otto is one of the leading platforms in the German e-market. The new brand includes furniture, home textiles, and lighting.
Deutsche Messe is expanding its international presence with the launch of Domotex South East Asia in Bangkok, scheduled for 11 to 13 November 2026. Following the long-established Domotex Asia/Chinafloor in Shanghai, which has been held since 1999, this marks the second major Domotex spin-off in the East and Southeast Asian region.The "Carpet & Rugs" segment moved into Halls 11.0, 11.1, and 12.0 at this year's Heimtextil (13–16 January), benefiting from significantly more generous presentation areas than in previous years. This expansion aligned with current industry trends: as carpet manufacturers were virtually unrepresented at this year's Domotex, exhibitors focused heavily on their appearance in Frankfurt.
Annette Levy will take over as Project Manager of Domotex in Hanover on 1 February 2026. She succeeds Thilo Horstmann, who is moving to another event within Deutsche Messe after 17 years with Domotex. Levy has been part of the Domotex team since 2020, where she was most recently responsible for visitor and multiplier management.
Sonia Wedell-Castellano, who has served as Global Director of Domotex since 2018, is leaving Deutsche Messe at her own request at the end of January 2026. According to the company, she is moving on to pursue new professional challenges. A successor for the position of Global Director has not yet been named.
The German DIY market leader Obi plans to open 15 new locations across Germany in the first half of 2026. All stores will be operated by franchise partners, with the majority being rebranded from existing sites during ongoing operations.