One of the pillars of the Italian GDP, the Wood-Furniture supply chain, closes il 2025 with an increase – unexpected and hoped for – of turnover, visitors can enjoy a tour in any season thanks to the recovery of the internal market, with a export not bad, which does not fall despite the tariff war declared by Trump, and which is actually preparing for the great global event of Furniture expo Milan. The latter, together with the biennial EuroCucina, represents the historic occasion to celebrate the Made in Italy of the table, of conviviality and of our products, thanks to the recent proclamation of Italian Cuisine as an intangible heritage by UNESCO.
Sold out for the Salone del Mobile
First, i personal data on the Salon confirm the record making it the first and only globally significant event dedicated to the home – not just furniture. The event was moved beyond mid-April and will take place by 21 26 to April, At Milan Fair in Rho. The exhibitors, between confirmations and many returns, exceed the 1.900 unit (36,6% from abroad), with 227 brands e over 169.000 sqm of completely net exhibition space sold out.
At the center, the long-awaited return of the Biennials: EuroKitchen with Ftk – Technology For the Kitchen, featuring 106 brands from 17 countries, and the International Bathroom Exhibition, with 163 brands from 14 countries. Completing the program is SaloneSatellite, featuring 700 designers under 35 and 23 international schools and universities.
Claudio Feltrin: "Turnover is growing, and exports remain strategic."
Behind these results lies a formidable manufacturing industry. "The wood-furniture supply chain in 2025," declared the president of FederlegnoArredo, Claudio Feltrin – recorded production revenues of €52,2 billion, up 1,3% from 2024. Exports, accounting for 37% of the total, are estimated to remain stable for the year (+0,4%), despite showing signs of weakness in some strategic markets such as France (-1,3%) and the United States (-2,5%) in the first ten months. Conversely, some signs of improvement and recovery are coming from Germany (+1%).
Diversifying exports: the key to success
“The data processed by the FederlegnoArredo Study Center Feltrin emphasized, "They paint a picture in which exports maintain a central role for the supply chain, but require companies to be more adaptable, have a strong presence in markets, and diversify, given the highly volatile international landscape. In this context, I believe our companies have been able to give their all, managing to maintain their presence even in temporarily struggling markets, without ever abandoning them, and immediately seizing the signs of recovery, as is happening in the German and British markets. I dare say we've been good at diversifying, and that staying ahead in the most critical moments has proven to be a rewarding approach."
The show generates a record 278 million euros in revenue
How much is the Salon worth? It reveals it the Annual Report “(Eco)Sistema Design Milano”, commissioned for the second year by the Salone del Mobile.Milano to the Design Department of the Milan Polytechnic. It is an extraordinary “portrait”, conducted with scientific methods and surprising results. Among the highlighted numbers, the economic impact for the Design Weekamounts to 278 million euros (+15% compared to 2023, the year of the Euroluce Biennale), an annual record in digital spending (+18%), an all-time high in international visitors, the highest level of subway use of the year (+39,6% compared to the average), and a marked increase in accommodation rates.
Driving the impact was the 2025 edition of the Show, which recorded 302.786 attendees from 160 countries at the event's exhibition center. While in the city, the Schedule of the Week design saw a 25,7% increase in initiatives compared to 2024, for a total of 1.667 events, recorded in the Mdw 2025 survey of the Municipality of Milan.
