In the first quarter of 2025, Italy’s wood-furniture sector maintained stability with total exports valued at €4.7 billion, marking a slight decrease of just -0.4% compared to the same period last year. EU27 countries remained the top destination, accounting for €2.5 billion of the total, while non-EU markets showed a promising increase of +1.7%, reaching €690 million.
The furniture segment saw a modest decline (-1.1%), mainly due to sharp drops in kitchen (-8.3%) and office furniture (-9.8%). Conversely, the wood products segment grew by +1.6%, driven by a strong +9.7% performance in architectural and interior finishes.
Notably, the US market posted a +3% rise in Q1, rebounding from a slight dip earlier in the year—possibly spurred by efforts to preempt newly announced tariffs. The executive order signed by Donald Trump, which extends the tariff deadline from July 9 to August 1, could be influencing this trend. Other promising markets include the UK and the UAE, while Spain and Portugal stood out among EU countries. On the import side, China saw a dramatic increase, with +25% growth year-on-year in March alone, and a cumulative +38.2% for the quarter.