About the industry
The EU woodworking industry sectors
The turnover of the EU 27 woodworking industries totals more than €269 000 million. About half of this is accounted for by the furniture sector and half by the woodworking sector, representing a record €138 400 million. EU manufacturing is dominated by Italy and Germany. France follows at some distance in third position, closely followed by the United Kingdom and Spain. Within the new Member States, the picture is slightly different. The woodworking sector has been preponderant for many years, but since 2004 the sector is caught up by a strong growing furniture industry, which is good for almost 48% of the sector total. Together, they represent some 13.2%, or €35 600 million, of the total EU 27 industry output value. Close to 40% of this comes from Poland, followed by the Czech Republic with 16%, Romania with 12% and Latvia, Slovakia and Hungary with just about 5% each.
The Baltic States registered particularly high growth rates during the most recent years. The woodworking industries grew by more than 50% during the 2000-2004 period in Slovakia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic, mainly thanks to a booming furniture sector.
A driving force of the global economy
The woodworking industry is a major employer in many of the Member States of the European Union and features among the top 3 industries in Austria, Finland, Portugal and Sweden.
A provider of welfare in Europe
The woodworking industry provides jobs to nearly 3 million people in the EU 27. In common with all traditional industries, it plays an important part in achieving the Lisbon goal of becoming the world’s most competitive region.
A contributor to rural development
Firms are often located in remote, less industrialised or developed areas, making an important contribution to the rural economy.
A diversified industry
The industry covers a wide range of activities, from sawmilling, planing and pressure treating to the production of wood-based panels, veneer and boards; from construction products to joinery; from pallets and packaging to furniture.
An industry of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME)
The companies within the woodworking industries are mostly SMEs, with only a few large groups, typically in the softwood sawmill, panel and parquet sectors, operating on a European or global scale. The total number of businesses in the EU 27 wood industry is estimated at 380,000, 150,000 of which are in the furniture industry.