Assil companies look to the next 3 years with caution, but with moderate optimism. For 50% of the members, exports are a driving force for the sectors’ growth
The Italian lighting industry closed 2024 with a turnover of just over 3 billion Euros, marking a decrease of 7.4% compared to 2023. Despite the slowdown, the sector represents the second-largest production hub in the European Union after Germany, with 1,219 active companies and 16,350 employees. For every Euro of turnover generated by manufacturers, the supply chain, including wholesalers, retail and installation, activates between 3 and 5 additional Euros, generating a downstream value of the Italian lighting sector measurable from €7.3 to €12.9 billion.
In the first nine months of 2025, industrial production in the sector fell by 8.4%, a less favourable trend than the entire electrical engineering industry (+0.4%) and manufacturing industry (-1.1%). Turnover in value also reflects this weakness: -5.5% for lighting, against +1.2% for electrical engineering and -1.6% for manufacturing.
This is the picture taken by ANIE in the report produced for ASSIL, which describes the economic and economic scenario of the Italian lighting industry. Similar signals emerge in foreign markets. In 2024, Italy is confirmed as the world’s 9th largest lighting exporter and 2nd in the EU, with foreign sales close to 2 billion Euros and a slight growth trend in the long term. However, the first half of 2025 recorded a contraction of more than 7%, mainly caused by the weakness of the main European outlet markets such as Germany and France. The EU continues to absorb more than half of Italian exports, while, on the import front, Asia dominates unchallenged: China, in particular, has gone from covering over 35% of imports in 2014 to more than 45% in 2024, reaching 634 million Euros. According to ExportPlanning estimates, in 2025 Italian lighting exports should fall by about 3% at current values, suggesting a partial recovery in the second half of the year.
On the other hand, from 2026, a return to growth is expected, with a progressive strengthening of the expansion pace, anticipating the recovery of the sector’s global demand.
Considering this scenario, ASSIL, the association that has about 90 member companies (with a total global turnover of about 2.1 billion Euros), over 6,300 employees, and which represents the manufacturers of luminaires, electrical components for lighting, light sources and LEDs, has surveyed to investigate among its member companies how to deal with this not too positive economic situation.
“Our companies look to the next three years with a cautious attitude on the general economic situation, but with moderate optimism towards domestic and foreign markets. Over 50% of members believe that exports continue to represent a pillar for the growth of the sector,” says Carlo Comandini, President of ASSIL. “This combination creates a context in which challenges and opportunities intertwine and outline the sector’s evolutionary trajectories.”
On the critical front, companies above all point out the growing pressure on prices and the market’s preference for cheap products, especially in residential and large-scale distribution. International competition in the segment of standard LEDs and low-cost products squeezes margins and puts in disadvantage manufacturers who focus on quality, design and durability. Elements that are not often recognised by the market in their value throughout the entire life cycle. In addition to that, there is the digitisation challenge: a process considered indispensable but challenging, which requires new skills, continuous investments in R&D and a fast technological evolution, often difficult to sustain.
Alongside the challenges, there are also concrete opportunities. “Digitalisation and smart lighting represent the most promising fronts,” continues Comandini, “There is a growing demand for intelligent control systems, energy efficiency solutions, building automation and advanced applications such as adaptive lighting and Human Centric Lighting. Companies see in this area not only a competitive advantage, but a new market to be overseen through the integration of hardware, software and services. Another strategic lever is the opening up to new international markets. Exports continue to offer growth prospects, thanks to global demand for quality Italian products and design and opportunities in high-potential non-EU markets, such as North America, the Middle East and the Far East. For many companies, strengthening their foreign presence through partnerships and commercial networks, that is an essential condition for supporting future development.
Companies are also calling for clearer and more stable European rules to limit uncertainty, targeted incentives for innovation and tangible support for training. In this scenario, lighting technology can only grow by becoming more digital, international, and aligned with the main energy transition drivers, so as more capable of communicating the value of quality lighting.
ASSIL – Associazione Nazionale Produttori Illuminazione, federated by ANIE Confindustria, brings together about 90 luminaires manufacturers, electrical components for lighting, light sources and LEDs, among the most representative operating on the Italian lighting market. ASSIL companies, with a global turnover of about € 2.1 billion, develop over 68% of the total Italian turnover in the sector and employ over 6,300 employees. The Association’s mission is to represent, protect and support the Member Companies to promote the growth of a quality industry based on Innovation and Internationalisation.
