Feltrin: “A legacy that is more relevant than ever and whose value must be preserved. Innovation, training and sustainability drive the evolution of the supply chain”
This is an important milestone from which to look to the future. FederlegnoArredo celebrated its 80th anniversary during the Annual Assembly held last May on the island of San Servolo, Venice. Three days of meetings and reflections, which relaunched the strategic role of the wood furniture supply chain in a global context, in terms of sustainability and technological innovation considering the actual uncertain economic scenarios. The year 2024 closed with a total turnover of around 52 billion euros, of which almost 20 billion is linked to exports, which however shows a 2.1% decrease. A figure that reflects the difficulties of some key markets, but also the capacity of a constantly evolving sector that, at least in 2024, has been able to perform better than others.
After a promising start to the year, however, exports of the supply chain recorded a 4.8% drop in February, bringing the cumulative figure for the first two months to -0.7%, for a value of almost 3 billion euros. The largest declines were recorded in France (-3.3%) and Germany (-3.2%). The United States is stable (-0.1%), while Spain (+6.6%) and Poland (+11.5%) stand out for their positive sign (FederlegnoArredo Study Centre).
In his speech, the president of FederlegnoArredo, Claudio Feltrin, shared the data with the members and analysed the economic situation of the moment, while reiterating how “Eighty years are not just a milestone, but a testimony of vision. In a Country still marked by war, entrepreneurs did not stop believing in associations as a tool to build the future together. Today that legacy is more relevant than ever, and retains its founding value”.
Great recognition of the work done by the Federation in 80 years and the importance of the wood-furniture supply chain also came from the institutions for the occasion.
For the Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, Francesco Lollobrigida, “The eightieth anniversary of FederlegnoArredo is not just an anniversary, but the recognition of a supply chain that has been able to evolve, face challenges and represent the excellence of Made in Italy in the world: the nation is proud of it. We were the first nation in Europe to adopt a national forestry strategy and we support supply chain contracts by promoting the synergy of companies. Today I want to assure once again to all the members of the Federation that the government will continue to work with an always open dialogue to achieve common goals: creating wealth, creating jobs, guaranteeing the environment”.
It is the President of the Veneto Region, Luca Zaia, who underlines the strategic role of the Federation:
“I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the commitment and vision that characterizes FederlegnoArredo. We celebrate eighty years of history today. That means that despite the 1945 rubble, there were those willing to build the future with an entrepreneurial spirit and the desire to give life to a form of associationism capable of representing a sector. Today, the role of FederlegnoArredo and its entrepreneurs is for all to see: to transform territories into districts that innovate, evolving into recognized protagonists on national and international markets. This is a great source of pride for us: wherever you go in the world, Italian wood furniture is synonymous with excellence. Even in a complex historical moment, your work remains a point of reference for employment, reputation and entrepreneurial spirit. Thank you for what you have built and continue to build”.
The president of Confindustria, Emanuele Orsini, already at the helm of the Federation from 2017 to 2020, reiterated: “Best wishes for this eightieth anniversary to the Federation, the common home of the members I know well: it is truly a pleasure to greet you gathered in Venice, to celebrate in a symbolic place the history of FederlegnoArredo, but also of our production system. We know that the sector’s production represents an excellence of Made in Italy, and is an important export resource for our country. Today tensions for all industrial sectors are very high. We are therefore called upon to look for new markets and support companies in maintaining their competitiveness, safeguarding supply chains of excellence such as the one that FederlegnoArredo represents”.
Veneto is the second national hub for the wood-furniture supply chain with over 6,200 companies and 45,000 employees. The value of production is close to 8 billion euros, with a strong propensity to export: 3.8 billion euros, corresponding to 23% of the national total. The furniture sector, in particular, exports to over 170 countries, led by France, Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom (Federlegnoarredo Study Centre).
