Italy’s woodworking machinery output declines as competition from China intensifies

The global woodworking and furniture machinery sector is moving out of the post-pandemic investment surge and into a period of adjustment, with Italy’s long-dominant position increasingly challenged by rising competition from China. After several years of exceptional growth driven by pandemic-era investment, output from Italian manufacturers has declined for two consecutive years. Data from Acimall, which represents Italy’s woodworking and furniture-manufacturing supply chain, show that production fell to €2.17bn in 2025, down more than 10% year on year and nearly 20% below the 2023 peak of around €2.65bn. The downturn ...