Jarosław Michniuk, Vice President of the Polish Chamber of Commerce of Furniture Manufacturers and President of Paged Meble, has highlighted pressing challenges in Poland's wood and furniture sectors ahead of the 10th National Furniture Congress in Poznań. After years of growth, industry revenues have slowed sharply since 2022 due to record-high timber prices, sourcing restrictions, rising labour costs, and high energy prices.
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Profitability fell by 20% for furniture manufacturers and 30–80% in the wood sector, while employment dropped by nearly 30,000.
Michniuk stressed that decisive corrective measures are essential to prevent industry contraction, mass layoffs, and reduced export revenues, as furniture accounts for 15% of Polish exports and 90% of production is exported. Recommended solutions include stabilising timber prices from State Forests, gradually reducing energy costs, and aligning minimum wage growth with productivity. A Timber and Furniture Council at the Prime Minister's office is awaited to coordinate systemic reform.
The Congress, held during the DREMA Trade Fair on September 10, will focus on "A New Era in Furniture – Between Economy and Ecology," offering a platform for dialogue among Polish and EU industry representatives. Participation is free but requires advance registration.
Source: www.drema.pl
