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downwards, furniture sector performance has varied between
European countries in recent times. Wikimedia Commons
Eurostat data shows that while overall EU27 furniture
production in 2024 was below the level prevailing in 2019,

production in Lithuania, Poland, Spain and Italy remains above
the pre-pandemic level. Production in the first three of those
countries increased last year.
However, production in many other countries is now well
below the pre-pandemic level and continued to decline last
year, including in Germany, Sweden, Belgium, France, Romania,
Netherlands and Denmark. (+35% to 236,000 tonnes), the Netherlands (+65% to 202,000
tonnes), Germany (+34% to 192,000 tonnes), Spain (+46% to
China drives rise in European furniture imports in 2024 82,000 tonnes), Belgium (+65% to 71,000 tonnes), Italy (+28%

Closer analysis of the data reveals that the recent growth in to 59,000 tonnes), and Poland (+40% to 57,000 tonnes).
wooden furniture imports into the EU27+UK has been driven The rise in Chinese wooden furniture imports into European
almost entirely by China. countries in 2023 and 2024 is partly explained by the fact
Imports into Europe from China increased by five percent that it followed a big decline in 2022 when Chinese exports
to 1.26 million tonnes in 2023 and were up by more than 35 were seriously impacted by rigorous lockdowns during the
percent to 1.53 million tonnes in the January to November pandemic.
period last year. And while high production costs are impeding the

In contrast imports from tropical countries fell by 23 international competitiveness of European furniture products,
percent to 430,000 tonnes in 2023 and were up only six the competitiveness of Chinese products is benefiting from
percent in the January to November period last year. Imports continual improvements in technical performance, manufacturing
from all other countries (mainly non-EU European countries efficiency, quality management, and from increasing investment
and Turkey) decreased eight percent to 590,000 tonnes in in advertising and marketing.
2023 and increased by six percent to 570,000 tonnes in the The accelerating pace of imports from China during 2024,
January to November period last year. at a time when underlying European consumption was slow,
Wooden furniture imports from China have increased both may also be related to EUDR as European importers were
into the UK, the largest single wooden furniture importing building stock before enforcement of that law was expected

country in Europe, and into the EU. to begin on 30 December 2024.
UK imports from China increased 13 percent to 417,000 The EU has now delayed the date of EUDR application
tonnes in 2023 and were up another 16 percent to 445,000 until 30 December 2025 but that decision was only confirmed
tonnes in the January to November period last year. EU imports at the very end of last year.
from China were up only 3% in 2023 to 833,000 tonnes but The full impact of EUDR on EU imports of composite
increased 44 percent to 1,090,000 tonnes in the January to products like furniture remains to be seen but is likely to be
November period last year. very significant given the challenges of meeting the far-reaching

Imports of wooden furniture from China increased very traceability requirements. FDM
sharply into all the main EU markets last year including France ENQUIRY NO. 2001