GERMANY – VDMA (German Machinery and Equipment Manufacturers Association) Woodworking Machinery has retracted its forecast for 2024, expecting a 15% decline in production, down to EUR 3.6 billion in Germany. This follows a record EUR 4.2 billion in 2023. With 3,600...
Mixed Latam Plywood Imports Growth in 2023
COLOMBIA - Plywood imports in Latin America during 2023 have shown a mixed picture. Despite a slight decline in overall imports compared to 2022, some countries have experienced significant changes in their figures. According to data from Sisduan, total plywood...
Brazil Calls for EU to Reevaluate Deforestation Import Ban
BRAZIL – Brazil government authorities urge the European Commission to reconsider its anti-deforestation rules, which could impact its exports by nearly USD 15 billion. The EU's 2022 legislation bans imports from deforested areas after 2022, effective December 30,...
Mixed Results for Italy’s Wood-Furniture Sector in First Half of 2024
ITALY - The Italian wood-furniture sector has had a challenging start to the year, experiencing a sales contraction of 5.2% in the first half (6M-2024), affecting both the domestic market (6.0%) and the export market (4.1%). However, forecasts for the remainder of...
Spanish Particleboard Exports to LATAM Up 58.8% in 6M-2024
SPAIN - From January to July 2024, Spain has seen a general increase in particleboard / MDP exports, reaching a total of USD 76.5 million, a 58.8% rise from USD 48.2 million in 6M-2023. Among the countries showing the most significant improvements compared to last...
Colombian Wooden Furniture Exports Up 4.1% in 7M-2024
COLOMBIA - Colombia's wooden furniture exports have shown a slight increase from January to July 2024, rising by 4.1% to reach USD 34.99 million compared to USD 33.62 million during the same period in 2023. This growth is attributed to notable increases in exports to...
German Furniture Industry Sales Decline by Nearly 10% in 6M-2024
GERMANY - The German furniture industry saw a significant drop in sales in the first half of 2024, falling by 9.7 percent to EUR 8.3 billion. This decline is mainly due to consumer reluctance influenced by rising energy and food prices and political uncertainty. Jan...
Latin America’s Wooden Furniture Exports Dip 5.5% in 6M-2024
COLOMBIA - In the first half of 2024, Latin America's wooden furniture exports experienced a decline of 5.5% compared to the same period in 2023, totaling USD 759.3 million. This downturn reflects varied performances across the region, with some countries seeing...
Eco-Friendly Building Materials are Transforming Ecuador’s Construction Sector
ECUADOR - The construction industry is a major environmental contributor globally, accounting for about 39% of CO2 emissions, primarily due to material manufacturing like cement. However, the shift towards sustainable practices is gaining momentum. Daniel Sotalin,...
China’s Wooden Furniture Exports Surge 24% in 7M-2024
USA - According to Lesprom Analytics, China’s wood furniture exports saw a significant 24% increase in the first seven months of 2024, reaching 256 million pieces. This boost led to a 9% rise in export value, totaling USD 13.4 billion. Despite this growth, the average...
TF Bern Innovates Carpentry Training with Digital Solutions
SWITZERLAND - Technische Fachschule Bern (TF Bern), founded in 1888 in Switzerland, is renowned for blending technical training with real-world production. With 650 trainee spaces, TF Bern offers hands-on experience by creating custom furniture and interior fittings....
FSC and Aglomerados Cotopaxi Highlight Ecuador’s Leadership in Sustainable Forest Management
ECUADOR - Aglomerados Cotopaxi, one of Ecuador's leading forest products companies , recently hosted a significant discussion in partnership with FSC Ecuador to highlight the country’s pivotal role in sustainable forest management. Ecuador’s extensive forest coverage,...