The Belgian furniture industry saw its turnover fall by approximately 7% in 2024 for the second consecutive year, dropping below the €2 billion mark. This decline was attributed to weak consumer demand and a struggling construction sector, according to Fedustria, the Belgian Federation of the Textile, Wood and Furniture Industry.
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The figures were presented on 23 April 2025 at Fedustria's general meeting in Grimbergen. The downturn affected all product categories, with office and shop furniture down by 10.9%, mattresses and bed bases falling 12.4%, kitchen furniture down 6.5%, and household furniture slipping 4.1%.
Despite the grim results, Fedustria CEO Karla Basselier offered cautious optimism, citing a "significant increase in real estate prices" and a sharp rise in young property buyers as potential drivers of recovery. 'These are customers who buy different types of furniture,' she said. Basselier also noted that energy and labour costs remain major obstacles, but innovation among Belgian companies is helping some outperform the market.
In contrast, the wood processing industry recorded a 3.4% growth in turnover after a sharp 12.3% decline in 2023. Strong performances in the third and fourth quarters of 2024 helped offset early-year losses, with panel production up 8.6%. However, construction elements and other wood products continued to decline.
Meanwhile, the Belgian textile sector recorded a turnover of €5 billion in 2024, a slight decrease of 0.9% compared to the previous year.
The meeting also marked a leadership change, as Frank Veranneman, co-CEO of Sioen's Technical Weaving division, succeeded Jan Desmet as chairman of Fedustria. Veranneman brings extensive industry experience, including past roles with VOKA West-Vlaanderen and the Commercial Court of Kortrijk.
Source: www.meuble-info.fr