Bulgaria's furniture industry produced goods worth EUR 535 million in 2024, marking one of its strongest years to date, according to data presented by the Branch Chamber of Woodworking and Furniture Industry (BCWFI). At the Chamber's annual conference in Borovets, its president, Vasil Zhivkov, noted that domestic furniture consumption also reached an all-time high of EUR 503 million, reflecting stronger household and commercial investment in interior furnishings.
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Production was dominated by solid-wood furniture and wood-based materials, accounting for 27.6% of total output, followed by wooden-frame seating and mattresses. Bulgaria now ranks 26th in Europe for production and performs most strongly in exports, which reached EUR 501 million in 2024. Imports, led by China, Turkiye and Poland, hit a record EUR 471 million. Romania, Greece and Poland remained Bulgaria's largest export markets.
Despite the positive figures, Zhivkov stressed that the industry faces significant structural challenges, including low labour productivity, regulatory burdens and a shortage of skilled workers. He also warned that new EU rules, such as the Deforestation Regulation and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, could reshape the sector if not implemented with realistic timelines and quality-focused criteria.
Source: www.bta.bg
