The Italian wood processing and furniture manufacturing technology industry is still going through “complex” times. The preliminary data for 2024 demonstrate how the “uncertainties” that have long affected the actual effectiveness of the “Industry 5.0” measures, along with the ongoing consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict—combined with stagnation caused by the exceptional demand of previous years—have impacted overall results.
According to an initial report outlined by the Acimall Research Office, the Confindustria association representing companies in the sector, 2024 production stood at 2.43 billion euros, down 8.3 percent compared to 2023.
Both exports (1.7 billion, down 7.8 percent) and domestic demand (730 million, down 9.5 percent) declined, alongside a collapse in imports (180 million, down 40.2 percent), which demonstrates how the Italian supply is still able to “dominate” the demand for technology.
This last figure, in fact, “supports” the trade balance (1.52 billion euros, down 1.5 percent compared to the 2023 final balance), while apparent consumption dropped to 910 million, a 17.9 percent decrease from the previous year. However, these figures still place Italy among the top countries in the global and European rankings for demand in wood technology.
“The situation is certainly not positive,” commented Acimall Director Dario Corbetta, “and the sector is suffering from a reality that was first put on hold by the arrival of Covid and later by incentives that effectively postponed the industry’s structural problems for two years. This is a scenario whose contours are well known: a shortage of labor, delays in generational turnover, and all the challenges faced by mechanical manufacturing, not to mention the geopolitical tensions that have inevitably slowed exports to certain markets.”
EXPORTS
In this regard, it should be noted that in the first nine months of the year, the United States (129 million, down 3.6 percent compared to the same period in 2023), France (122 million, up 22 percent), and Germany (92 million, down 1.3 percent) topped the list of Italy’s best customers. They were followed by Poland (74 million, down 5.4 percent), Spain (56 million, up 7 percent), United Kingdom (46 million, down 28.7 percent), China (45 million, up 16.8 percent), Sweden (38 million, down 11.5 percent), Turkey (35 million, up 21.4 percent), and Belgium (32 million, down 13.4 percent).
The trend of Italian exports to China and Turkey is particularly interesting, as both have significantly grown their domestic wood machinery production in recent decades, becoming competitors to watch closely. “…The fact that our manufacturers are able to further consolidate their presence in these markets demonstrates not only the quality of Italian technological offerings but also how the most advanced technologies truly make the difference. However, in the case of Turkey, we must also consider the possibility of triangulations towards other destinations,” added Director Corbetta.
On a global scale, Italy continues to play a leading role in market competitiveness. Looking at the ranking of the world’s top wood and furniture technology exporters for the period January-September 2024, China remains in first place, with exports worth 1.827 billion euros, up 7.2 percent compared to the same period in 2023. Germany ranks second (1.807 billion, down 12.4 percent), followed by Italy in third place (1.138 billion, down 7.6 percent).
IMPORTS
Regarding imports, at a global level, the United States was the largest customer for global suppliers, purchasing woodworking machinery and equipment from abroad worth 1.782 billion euros, down 0.8 percent compared to the first nine months of 2023. Germany ranked second (635 million in foreign purchases, down 8.2 percent), followed by Canada (486 million, up 8.4 percent).
As for Italy’s top suppliers in the same January-September 2024 period, Germany ranked first with 48 million euros (down 48.5 percent), followed by China (23 million, down 3.7 percent) and India (9 million, down 49.8 percent).
