In an overall global context that remains very complex and uncertain, the wood-furnishing supply chain appears to maintain solid positions on international markets: according to data processed by the FederlegnoArredo Research Center using Istat data, despite the 4.7% decline in exports in August, the cumulative total for the first eight months of the year, equal to 12.7 billion euros, is essentially stable at -0.2%.

Furniture production growing

With regard to industrial production, it can be noted that in 2025 the production of furniture is returning to pre-Covid normal levels. In October the Furniture sector in fact recorded a +4.3% which confirms the January–October trend (+4.1%). This growth comes after two consecutive years of decline (2024 at -2.9% and 2023 at -5.7%) compared to 2021 and 2022, which had recorded extraordinary performances. In this context, it can be assumed that it is primarily the domestic market driving growth compared to ’24, also thanks to confirmations of building incentives that affect the sector’s performance.  

In the Wood sector, the figure for production essentially flat (-0.3% the variation Jan–Oct 2024) is the summary of alternating months and of individual productions with opposing trends.

Supply chain exports in January–August 2025

Analyzing in detail the exports of the wood-furnishing supply chain, rather contrasting trends can be observed. In the top ten, France stands out with a negative sign at -2.4%, with a total value just under 2 billion euros that is feeling the effects of the domestic market crisis; Germany, in third position, records -0.4%; Switzerland also retreats with -2.8% (544 million euros) and China stands at 293 million euros with a heavy -10.9%, recording the worst performance among the main destinations, mainly due to the slowdown in real estate and trade tensions with the United States. 

Positive performance instead for the UK with +4.2% and Spain (+1%) which continues the positive trend, albeit with smaller values. Excellent results for the Netherlands at +7.4% but, in absolute terms, still limited (292 million euros) and the United Arab Emirates at +4.7% for a total of 309 million euros. 

Exports to the USA: a worrying situation

The data relating to exports to the USA deserve a separate analysis. As Claudio Feltrin, president of FederlegnoArredo, explains, “in the top ten the performance of the USA stands out, which still maintain second position and record, in the first eight months of the year, a -1.7% for a total value approaching one billion four hundred million euros. 
The overall variation summarizes an attempt, in the first months of the year, to 'get ahead' of the tariffs, especially in March (+8.2%) and April (+4.8%), and a deterioration of exports in the following months, up to -16.4% in August ’25 versus August ’24, equal to a decline of over 28 million euros. We hope to be able to close the year with the US exports showing a single-digit loss, while for exports in general we trust in a substantial resilience of the sector.” 

Non-EU markets

In non-EU markets, growth of +2.2% is reported, driven by the United Kingdom and Canada (+8%), while Mexico falls sharply (-18.7%).

The Middle East as a whole is down (-3.1%); Asia shows a contraction of 8.4%, determined by the decline in China (-10.9%), from which our country in the January–August ’25 period imported 1.5 billion euros, up +2.2%; while Europe imported in the same period 20.4 billion, up +8.8% (among the main countries, Germany imports over 3 billion euros).  

Africa grows significantly (+15.4%), driven by Morocco (+48.7%) and Libya (+8.7%), confirming the emerging role of this area.

Opening to new markets

“For next year - concludes Feltrin - we expect a first half of stability and we are confident of greater dynamism in the second half, although, given the situation, making forecasts is truly a complex exercise. Our challenge as a Federation and as a system is to continue to support companies in opening up to new markets and in strengthening competitiveness by focusing on quality, innovation and research. The Salone del Mobile, a heritage of the supply chain, and the international initiatives planned will be strategic in this regard”.