Il Made in Italy furniture and design confirms at the top in Europe in 2025 and shows superior resilience to its main international competitors, in a far from simple context, marked by geopolitical tensions, energy instability, and changes in global value chains. This is what emerges from the analysis "Made in Italy furniture and design: challenges and opportunities in an ever-evolving market”, created by Stefania Trenti and Ilaria Sangalli of the Research Department of Intesa Sanpaolo, which photographs a sector from 26,7 billion euros in turnover, growing by +0,5% in 2025, while the rest of the European industry shows signs of decline.
Italy leads Europe in mobile: revenue up 0,5% in 2025
Italy's leadership in European furniture is decisively strengthened: Italy remains in first place In terms of production value, it is ahead of Germany, which stands at €21,7 billion. The sector is growing by 0,5%, while its main competitors are experiencing declines: Germany (-2,9%), France (-4,5%) And Poland (-0,3%). Only the Spain It shows a positive trend (+4,7%), but on a significantly smaller base, equal to 8,6 billion euros. The stability of the Italian economic system is based on a balance between a stable domestic market and competitive exports, supported by strong production specialization and the structure of industrial districts.
Made in Italy mobile exports 2025: an €8,4 billion surplus
The sector will maintain a positive trade balance of 8,4 billion of euros, despite a slight flexion with exports by -1,2%, confirming the ability of Italian furniture to adapt rapidly to changes in international demand. In Europe, growth Germany (+ 2,2%), UK (+ 5%) and Spain (+1,5%), while the France is falling (-2,4%). Outside Europe, much more marked dynamics emerge: the Turkey marks an increase of +43,5%, becoming the most dynamic market in the sector, while the Canada grows by +9% and enters the top ten destinations for Italian furniture. In contrast, United States recorded a decrease of -8,2%, while remaining the second reference market, while the China falls by -4,7% due to the weakness of domestic demand linked to the real estate crisis.
Furniture industrial districts: 83% of Italy's trade surplus
I industrial districts They represent the heart of the sector's competitiveness, generating 83% of the trade surplus, equal to €6,9 billion. District exports, down only 0,3% (approximately €9 billion), have shown above-average resilience thanks to the ability to diversify geographically. Regional performance remains positive: Pordenone upholstered furniture grows by +7,7% Murgia of +8,9%, the wood furniture of theSouth Tyrol of +10,1% and the furniture in style of Bovolone of +20,6%. The main hubs also confirm their centrality and resilience: the Brianza (-1,8%) And Treviso (-3,3%) compensate for the difficulties thanks to strong expansion in alternative markets such as Türkiye, Canada and the Netherlands.
Scenario 2026: Moderate Growth and Global Geopolitical Uncertainty
Le prospects for 2026 remain linked to the international geopolitical scenario, in particular to the tensions in the Middle East and the effects on the energy market and on Strait of Hormuz routesThe baseline scenario envisages a temporary closure of the Strait until mid-May, followed by a gradual normalization of energy flows and a return to prices in the second half of the year. In this context, the GDP growth is estimated at +0,9% in the Eurozone and +0,4% in Italy, with a moderate impact on demand for durable goods. The furniture market is expected to see a slight increase, supported by high-end real estate and tourism, while household purchasing power remains under pressure.
The sector presents a direct exposure to Middle Eastern markets equal to 4,6% of 2025 exports, higher than the manufacturing average and linked to the strong presence of Italian companies in real estate projects in the area. The main risk concerns energy and logistics volatility, with indirect impacts on raw materials such as metals, glass, and plastic, and on transportation costs. However, Italian furniture remains a non-energy intensive sector, increasingly oriented towards efficiency and production circularity strategies.
High-end and Italian design: the true global competitive advantage
The positioning in the high-end segment It represents one of the key strengths of Made in Italy, with a 9,2% share and peaks approaching 25% in the kitchen segment, one of the most strategic globally. The design system further strengthens this advantage: over 76 employees generate over €6 billion in revenue, with Italy leading the European market ahead of Germany (€5,4 billion). This ecosystem consolidates the strength of the Italian brand through quality, innovation, and recognition.
Innovation, ESG, and Human Capital: The Challenges of Italian Furniture
The transformation of the sector is driven by innovation e sustainability. Artificial intelligence represents the main investment priority for 2026, with an adoption rate of 16%, in line with the Italian average but lower than Germany (23%). It is also growing ESG attention: 22% of companies show a strong interest and 48% a medium interest, especially among medium-large companies.
Alongside the opportunities, however, emerge critical issues structural: over 70% of companies have not completed the generational transition, while only 15,3% of boards include under 40s, compared to 17,7% of the manufacturing average. workforce highlights a progressive aging, with approximately 70% of those employed between 40 and 64 years old, compared to 64% in manufacturing. Despite this, the sector maintains solid fundamentals, with a gross operating margin at 10,3% of turnover in 2024, still higher than pre-Covid levels and sufficient to guarantee investment capacity also in 2026.
