The optimism perceived during the press conference of the Salone del Mobile.Milano was also confirmed in the remote intervention of Claudio Feltrin, president of FederlegnoArredo, who presented the Preliminary figures for 2022 of the FederlegnoArredo Study Center with satisfaction. In fact, a +12.7% recorded by the wood-furniture supply chain in 2022 stands out among these, a result which, in a complicated year characterized by uncertainties, rewards the work, quality and ability to innovate in a sector, the flagship of our Made in Italy. The wood-furniture sector reaches a production value of 56.6 billion euros, compared to 43 billion euros in 2019, the last year before the pandemic.

 

Exports grow by 13.3%

According to the preliminary data of the FederlegnoArredo Study Center, the growth of +12.7% compared to 2021 is the synthesis of +11.1% of the Furniture Macrosystem, +14.3% of the Wood Macrosystem and +15% of the Wood trade which thus exceeds 4 billion euros.

The Italian market reached +12.3%, thanks in particular to the positive contribution of some sectors, including that of building finishes (doors, windows, wooden floors) while for exports, which make up 37% of the volume of total turnover of the wood-furniture supply chain, a growth of +13.3% is estimated, driven in particular by the United States (third destination behind France and very close to Germany).

“Results - commented Claudio Feltrin - born out of several factors: from the effectiveness of building bonuses, to the rediscovered centrality of the home during the pandemic period, to the recognition, even on emerging markets, of the undisputed quality and excellence of our products, to the determination of companies to continue investing. A success that rewards the constant research and innovation work of our companies in the field of product durability, the use of secondary raw materials, energy saving and human resource training. In a word, product, process and social sustainability”.

 

Lighting system: positive data in 2022

For the Furnishing Macro System, a positive trend was recorded for production turnover which was close to 29 billion euros (+11.1%), while exports, which are worth 15.3 billion euros and represent 53% of total turnover, recorded a +12.6% compared to a domestic market (13.6 billion euro) at +9.4%. All the main markets show a positive sign, with the exception of Russia which loses share leaving the top ten destinations replaced by the United Arab Emirates.
The Lighting System, after the heavy decline in 2020, determined in particular by the strong dependence of the sector on foreign markets, in 2021 it had returned to pre-pandemic levels and in 2022 it has a production turnover of 2.5 billion euros, increasing by +7.2% on 2021. Exports were also positive at +8.5% (value 1.9 billion) which accounts for 76% of the total. Among the main destinations France, Germany and the United States; the latter record the most interesting growth rates. The variation on the domestic market was more contained (+3%).

 

The problem of rising costs

Despite the positive data for 2022, FederlegnoArredo highlights the signs of a slowdown recorded in the second half of last year due to the persistence of a situation of economic and political instability which has affected the energy costs incurred by companies and the availability of raw materials.

“The strong demand for raw materials that began in 1921 and the war still in progress - explained Claudio Feltrin - triggered the shortage of some materials with a consequent increase in costs, which increased in 2022.
Suffice it to say that for wood companies, the increase in prices in the period January-November '22 reached an average of +14.9% on 2021 and +24% on 2019. While for furniture companies the increase in the same period was +10.3% on 2021 and +14.6% on 2019. If we then compare the index of the industrial production of wood and furniture with that of turnover (January-November '22 out of '21), it can be seen that against a production of the wood system at +3.4% there is a turnover of +22.1%, while for furnishings it goes from +1 .9% of production to +12.1% of turnover. As many as 20 gap points for wood and around 10 for furniture”.

Another alarm signal is the figure for the trade balance of the wood-furniture supply chain which, albeit at 7.2 billion euros, is down 10% compared to 2021.

“We imported more wood and at higher cost. If the necessary measures are not adopted as soon as possible to counter the race of energy costs and raw materials and a forestry policy is implemented which makes our country independent in the supply of timber, - concludes Feltrin - even a healthy supply chain like ours risks no longer keeping up and losing competitiveness not only in Europe but also on emerging markets”.

  

About the Superbonus block

Then there is the further problem of the government's stop to the Superbonus in recent days. FederlegnoArredo, in a note signed by the president Claudio Feltrin, asks the Government to postpone the entry into force of the provision to 31 December 2023 which, with an emergency decree, blocked the transfer of credits for building bonuses starting from 16 February. This is to prevent companies in the wood-furniture chain from being so heavily impacted by the measure which involves, in addition to the Superbonus, also other building bonuses.