Italy’s exports of woodworking and furniture machinery declined 8% in 2024 to Euro 1.55 billion, as rising global uncertainty and sluggish demand in key markets weighed on sales. The performance placed Italy behind China and Germany, its two major competitors, according to figures released by Acimall, the Italian association of wood technology manufacturers.
Total production by Italian manufacturers reached Euro 2.42 billion last year, down 9% from 2023. Domestic sales fell 10% to Euro 725 million. Imports into Italy decreased even more sharply, down 25% to Euro 228 million, driven by reduced orders from major supplier countries.
“The figures illustrate a pause, not a collapse,” said Dario Corbetta, director of Acimall. He described the decline as a correction after years of post-pandemic growth, citing structural issues such as labor shortages, slow generational turnover in company leadership, and the continued need for investment in workforce training. The slowdown has also been shaped by external pressures, including geopolitical instability, persistent labor shortages, and tariff measures introduced by the United States, which have added further complexity to global trade dynamics.
Italy’s largest export markets in 2024 included the United States (Euro 177 million, down 4%), France (Euro 176 million, up 19%), and Germany (Euro 122 million, down 2%). Sales to China rose 2%, while exports to the United Kingdom declined 30%. On the import side, Italy halved purchases from Germany to Euro 84 million. Imports from China increased 36% to Euro 40 million. Spain rose to third place among Italy’s suppliers, shipping Euro 14 million in machinery, a 41% increase.
Germany, long the leading exporter in the sector, recorded Euro 2.49 billion in sales abroad, down 12% from 2023. Its top destinations were the United States (Euro 363 million, up 2%), China (Euro 213 million, down 18%), and France (Euro 168 million, down 14%). Egypt posted one of the most significant increases, jumping from Euro 9.7 million in 2023 to Euro 87 million.
China extended its lead as the world’s top exporter of wood and furniture machinery with Euro 2.52 billion in sales. Vietnam was its largest customer, purchasing Euro 357 million worth of equipment, up 28%. The United States followed at Euro 348 million (up 2%), while Russia imported Euro 224 million (up 2%). On the import side, China brought in Euro 189 million in foreign machinery, down 18%. Germany remained China’s top supplier at Euro 99 million despite a 23% drop. Italy ranked second with Euro 30 million, followed by Taiwan at Euro 15 million.
Looking ahead, Italian manufacturers expect 2025 to remain challenging. In Acimall’s quarterly survey, 50% of companies anticipated a further decline in domestic demand, while 45% predicted stability and only 5% forecast growth. International outlooks were similarly cautious: half of respondents expected foreign orders to decline further, with the remaining half projecting stable conditions.
Despite the short-term contraction, Corbetta said the industry’s fundamentals remain intact. “The mature and established markets, despite recent volatility, continue to serve as a reliable reference for manufacturers,” he said.
