GERMANY - Despite the challenging economic environment, the German furniture industry increased its national sales last year by almost seven percent to EUR 20.97 billion (companies with 20 and more employees). The key region of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and the companies in Ostwestfalen-Lippe (OWL) in particular made a significant contribution to this development: furniture industry sales in NRW rose by around six percent to EUR 8.4 billion, for OWL there was an increase of 8.4 percent to EUR 6.4 billion.

"North Rhine-Westphalia and especially Ostwestfalen-Lippe once again demonstrated their importance as important furniture industry regions last year," says Jan Kurth, Managing Director of the wood and furniture industry associations in North Rhine-Westphalia. "While the number of employees in the industry fell slightly across Germany, the number of employees in OWL rose by 1.2%."

The kitchen furniture industry has its main focus in Ostwestfalen-Lippe: The 25 local companies with 10,115 employees turned over EUR 4.16 billion  last year, seven percent more than in the previous year. They thus generated two thirds of the entire German turnover in the kitchen sector.

"Furniture and kitchen furniture manufacturers in North Rhine-Westphalia are characterized by a high level of innovation, a high level of flexibility and a motivated workforce," says Kurth. These factors would have helped companies navigate another challenging year.

Jan Kurth is cautiously optimistic about business development in the current year. "The furniture and kitchen furniture industry in North Rhine-Westphalia and East Westphalia-Lippe is feeling the effects of the sharp rise in material prices and the currently weak consumer climate." Consumers are unsettled as a result of inflation and the planned end of oil and gas heating. On the other hand, there is still a strong focus on the topic of living and furnishing. The pandemic period in particular made people aware of the great importance of a  comfortably furnished home.