Furniture industry in Europe - statistics & facts
Dynamic, constantly evolving, and moving towards more sustainable practices, the furniture industry in Europe is developing at a rapid pace. It combines new technologies with innovation, style, and design, as it works towards minimizing its impact on the environment. Among some of the leading furniture markets in Europe are those based in Germany, France, the United Kingdom, as well as Sweden, home to the biggest retailer in the continent, IKEA.
When it comes to international trade, and more precisely import sources of furniture, Poland takes the lead among European countries. It ranked second, after China, based on import value in Germany, raking in almost five billion euros. For furniture imported into Sweden, Poland was also the leading European partner, with imports amounting to a value of nearly four billion Swedish kroner.
As environmental awareness continues to grow across Europe, more furniture companies strive towards sustainability, whether that be through design, supply, manufacturing, transportation, and even packaging. Ethically and sustainably sourcing materials, choosing environmentally friendly textiles, and avoiding the use of harsh chemicals are just a few approaches to make the furniture industry “greener”.
Furniture manufacture and trade in Europe
Known for their sleek designs and quality craftsmanship, Italian furniture manufacturers took the lead in terms of annual turnover in 2023, generating approximately 26.8 billion euros. However, going by number of enterprises that produce furniture, Poland came in first the same year, with nearly 25,000 manufacturers in the country. In comparison, Italy registered about 14,300, over 10,000 less than the leading country.When it comes to international trade, and more precisely import sources of furniture, Poland takes the lead among European countries. It ranked second, after China, based on import value in Germany, raking in almost five billion euros. For furniture imported into Sweden, Poland was also the leading European partner, with imports amounting to a value of nearly four billion Swedish kroner.
How much do Europeans spend on furniture?
In 2022, the highest expenditure on furniture was recorded in Germany, where households spent over 52 billion euros in total on furniture, decor, and carpets. Households in the United Kingdom purchased over 20.6 billion British pounds worth of furniture in 2024, a decrease in comparison to the previous year. In the neighboring Ireland, however, household expenditure on furniture rose in recent years, reaching 2.1 billion euros per household in 2023, as opposed to just 800 million euros recorded ten years prior.As environmental awareness continues to grow across Europe, more furniture companies strive towards sustainability, whether that be through design, supply, manufacturing, transportation, and even packaging. Ethically and sustainably sourcing materials, choosing environmentally friendly textiles, and avoiding the use of harsh chemicals are just a few approaches to make the furniture industry “greener”.
