Friday, January 30, 2026
Following the recent report of ACIMALL, the woodworking and furniture technology industry in Italy has faced a slight downturn in 2025, as the market for machinery and technologies for wood and wood-based materials recorded a production value of 2.168 billion euro, reflecting a 10.4 percent decrease from 2024. Despite the decrease, the industry remains resilient, with future growth prospects in North America and Africa fueling optimism.
In the Italian domestic market, sales amounted to 710 million euro, showing a modest 2 percent decline compared to the previous year. Exports, on the other hand, witnessed a larger drop of 13.9 percent, with a total of 1.458 billion euro in sales abroad. The growth of imports, up by 5.3 percent to 240 million euro, indicates an increasing demand for foreign-made machinery in the Italian market.
Apparent consumption remained relatively stable at 950 million euro, a slight decrease of 0.3 percent compared to 2024. This suggests that while the overall market has contracted, the demand for wood technologies continues to maintain a significant level of stability. The trade balance for the year settled at 1.218 billion euro, a reduction of 16.9 percent from the previous year.
The industry’s performance in 2025 should be viewed against the backdrop of the pandemic’s lasting effects. The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted global industries in 2020, with Italy’s machinery market declining by 18.4 percent from 2019. However, following this dip, the sector experienced an incredible recovery, recording a 37 percent increase in 2021 and setting an all-time record of 2.650 billion euro in 2023.
The past three years of booming orders and heavy investments allowed for a massive renovation of the industry’s machinery fleet. This was followed by a more balanced return to “normalcy,” with 2024 and 2025 reflecting slight reductions in market values, likely due to the absence of the extraordinary demand witnessed during the recovery years.
Dario Corbetta, the Director of Acimall—Italy’s leading trade association for the woodworking machinery sector—acknowledged the inevitable reduction in production value, calling it a natural outcome of the industry’s earlier surge. “Unfortunately, this reduction was combined with other negative factors for our industry, particularly the disappearing of some key markets,” he stated, referring to the impact of political conflicts and geopolitical issues, especially in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine.
At the same time, Chinese production has expanded significantly across Asia and has even encroached upon South American markets, challenging Italian and European suppliers. However, the North American and European markets continue to show strong demand, maintaining Italy’s foothold in these regions.
Looking ahead, Africa presents a major opportunity for growth in the coming years. While Italian manufacturers remain dominant in North America and Europe, Corbetta emphasized the need for greater attention to Africa, which he described as “the big challenge of the future.” African nations, with their expanding economies and growing interest in industrialization, present a new horizon for Italian woodworking technology exports.
Despite the overall decline, the Italian domestic market remains a key player in the global wood technology sector. With a value approaching one billion euro, Italy continues to be a critical destination for wood technology machinery. The “Made in Italy” and “Made in Europe” brands continue to enjoy strong demand domestically, with new incentives for locally produced machinery introduced by the Italian government in 2025.
Corbetta noted that these incentives are expected to stimulate further growth in the sector, reinforcing the importance of domestic production and innovation. These positive signs are expected to continue into 2026, with new projects and investments driving progress in the industry.
One of the most anticipated events for the industry is Xylexpo, the biennial exhibition dedicated to wood and furniture technology. Scheduled for June 9-12, 2026, Xylexpo will be an essential platform for showcasing the latest innovations in woodworking machinery and technology. As Corbetta highlighted, this event will reaffirm Italy’s leadership role in the global wood technology market and act as a vital meeting point for both domestic and international industry leaders.
The upcoming edition of Xylexpo will likely feature a wide range of innovative products and technologies, from advanced machinery to sustainability-focused solutions, offering companies the opportunity to meet with potential customers and partners worldwide.
While 2025 has been a year of modest decline for Italy’s woodworking technology sector, the long-term outlook remains positive. With strong domestic demand, a focus on North American and African markets, and a revitalized Xylexpo exhibition on the horizon, Italy’s leadership in the wood and furniture technology industry seems well-secured.
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Tags: 2025 market report, Acimall report, Furniture Technology, italian woodworking machinery, Italy exports, market trends 2025, wood technology, wood-based materials, woodworking industry, Xylexpo 2026
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