After a prolonged downturn, the European furniture sector is showing faint signs of recovery—yet faces increasing pressure from soaring imports, particularly from China. According to Eurostat, seasonally adjusted furniture production in the EU27 rose by 1.5% in the first four months of 2025 compared to the same period last year. Lithuania, Poland, Spain, and Italy are outperforming the bloc's average, while production remains sluggish in Germany, France, and the Netherlands.
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Italy-based market research firm CSIL reports that European furniture consumption fell by 3% to €106 billion in 2024, following an 8% drop in 2023. CSIL notes: 'Furniture demand is forecasted to remain almost stagnant in 2025 and slightly improve in the medium term… Some positive factors that could support a recovery include a slight improvement in macroeconomic indicators, an expected easing of inflation and interest rates, and potential wage growth.' However, they warn that the forecast is 'subject to a higher-than-usual degree of uncertainty' due to ongoing geopolitical volatility.
Despite the turbulence, CSIL highlights structural resilience: 'Major retail chains and manufacturers operating on a European scale… benefit from strong internal cohesion and a well-established trade network.'
European wood furniture exports remain flat at just under 1.5 million tonnes, while imports have surged, reaching 2.9 million tonnes in the 12 months to March 2025. China is the clear driver, with EU27+UK imports from China rising 35% to 1.68 million tonnes in 2024 and up another 27% in Q1 2025. Imports to Spain and the Netherlands saw increases of over 50%.
The increase is partially linked to post-COVID recovery, but also to pre-emptive stockpiling ahead of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) enforcement now delayed to 30 December 2025. The regulation's traceability demands pose significant challenges for composite products like furniture.
Imports from tropical countries have also rebounded. Vietnam, Malaysia, and India posted respective gains of 8%, 20%, and 10% in 2024, continuing upward into early 2025.
Yet internal EU trade remains sluggish, dampening global performance. In 2024, intra-EU trade in wood furniture dropped 3.2% to US$15.3 billion. Without this drag, global trade would have grown by 8% rather than 5%.
Meanwhile, the EU has imposed provisional anti-dumping duties of up to 62.4% on Chinese hardwood plywood following a complaint by the Greenwood Consortium, citing dumping practices. Definitive duties are expected by December.
As Europe remains a major hub for furniture production and trade, the coming months will test whether resilience can outpace rising global competition and regulatory headwinds.
More information:
Global Wood Trade Network
service@globalwood.org
www.globalwood.org