The first half of 2025 has been a challenging period for Germany's textile and mattress sector, with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) navigating a landscape marked by structural pressures and persistent uncertainty. The combination of geopolitical tension, particularly the US's protectionist trade policies, slowed export growth, while rising costs, a tight labour market, and regulatory hurdles weighed on domestic competitiveness. The result has been a continuation of market consolidation and cautious business behaviour.
© Aleksandrs Gorins | Dreamstime
Economic indicators underscored these pressures. Germany's GDP fell by 0.3% in the second quarter, and corporate insolvencies rose sharply compared to the previous year. Within this environment, many companies in the textile and mattress industries reported declining revenues, with smaller businesses disproportionately affected. Additionally, rising imports from China, particularly impacting online sales, added to the competitive strain. Against this backdrop, industry leaders stress that government action and investment incentives are crucial to stabilise growth and safeguard Germany's production base.
Product-specific trends
Among home textiles, decorative and curtain fabrics suffered dramatic declines, with demand down 46.4% year-on-year and revenue falling 35.1%. By contrast, furniture upholstery fabrics saw modest gains, with a 3.6% increase in both sales and revenue. Bedding products experienced a slight increase in demand (+3.7%) but overall revenue fell 3%, while no data were available for textile flooring.
In the mattress segment, overall sales declined 8.7%, although unit sales rose slightly by 2.4%. Consumers showed restraint across nearly all mattress technologies. Foam mattresses stood out with an 11.9% increase in units sold, while other categories grew 23.6% in volume and 2.7% in revenue. Latex mattresses were the hardest hit, falling around a quarter in both volume and revenue, while TFK mattresses experienced more moderate losses. Substructures and box-spring systems also recorded significant declines of 16% in units and 12% in revenue.
Customised interior blinds and sunshades showed slight revenue decreases (-0.3%), with the double roller blind suffering the steepest losses (-11.5% units, -14% revenue). Plissee blinds, the most prevalent product group, saw smaller declines, while seasonal insect protection products recorded modest drops in both sales and revenue.
Industry outlook
The sector continues to call for visible political action to restore confidence and competitiveness. SMEs face ongoing hurdles, including regulatory complexity, slow administrative processes, and uneven digitalisation. As the new German government completes its first five months, companies await decisive measures that encourage investment and support sustainable growth.
The Kompetenz-Zentrum Textil + Sonnenschutz, based in Wuppertal, supports industry players through these turbulent times. By uniting the German Home Textiles Association, the Mattress Industry Association, and the Interior Blinds and Sun Protection Association, the centre fosters innovation, sustainable practices, and digital adoption. Its mission is to set industry standards, enhance competitiveness, and secure Germany's role as a production hub in the global market.
With structural challenges persisting and consumer confidence fragile, the sector's resilience, and timely government support, will be decisive for the trajectory of Germany's textile and mattress industries in the remainder of 2025.
More information:
Kompetenz-Zentrum Textil + Sonnenschutz
Petra Kerner
Hans-Böckler-Str.
205 42109 Wuppertal
+49 202 7597-71
www.heimtex.de
