Furniture: a strong ‘Made in Italy’ sector, but lagging behind in digital technologies
Bip’s survey of the sector indicates a potential global market worth 940 billion euros by 2030. The challenges facing Italian companies
The global furniture market is currently worth over 800 billion euros and is growing at a rate of 3 per cent a year, with a projected value of 940 billion by 2030. With North America leading the way in terms of demand (52 per cent of global consumption), furniture is the category with the strongest growth rate (+4.4 per cent for the 2025–2030 period). Per capita spending on the home is expected to rise from 299 to 365 euros by the end of the decade, and online sales – already accounting for 35 per cent of global sales – are set to reach 40 per cent by 2030.
These figures were compiled by Bip, a multinational consultancy firm, as part of its research report entitled ‘Made in Italy in the global context of design: between geopolitical instability and new competitive forces’.
Demand in Italia stands at 15 billion
In Italia, demand exceeds 15 billion euros, with a recovery expected to be driven by Light & Decor (+3 per cent, aggregate figure for 2025–2030). Per capita spending stands at €244 per year (-18% compared with the global average), with projections indicating growth to around €266 by 2030. The digital channel has more than doubled its share since 2018, rising from 14 per cent to 31 per cent of sales, with this share expected to reach 36 per cent by 2030.
Domestic production maintains a strong foothold in the domestic market: in 2025, furniture imports account for less than 20 per cent of total consumption. Whilst domestic demand remains strong, it is on the international market that the Italia furniture sector demonstrates its greatest strength, confirming its status as a manufacturing hub with a strong international focus, with 43 per cent of production destined for export, worth €11.2 billion in 2025. Italia ranks fourth in the global exporters’ league table, with high-end ‘Made in Italy’ products accounting for 30 per cent of the sector’s total exports.
The Salone del Mobile has once again proved itself to be the leading global platform, attracting over 315,000 visitors from 167 countries, with 68 per cent of exhibitors coming from abroad. The design districts of Northern Italia are driving the flow of business: Lombardy, Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia alone account for around 70 per cent of total exports. Alongside the manufacturing base, the geography of the markets is also changing: alongside France and the United States, which remain the top two destinations, new hubs such as the United Arab Emirates, Poland and Spain are growing, whilst there have been declines in China and, in the second half of the year, in the United States due to the impact of tariffs.
