The German furniture industry recorded a revenue of Euro 16.4 billion in 2024, marking a 7.4% decline compared to the previous year. Domestic sales fell by 6.8% to nearly Euro 11 billion, while foreign sales dropped by 8.6% to Euro 5.4 billion. The export share stood at 33%, according to the Association of the German Furniture Industry (VDM/VHK).
Office and shop furniture manufacturers saw the smallest losses, with a revenue decrease of around 4%. The kitchen furniture sector declined by 6.5%, mattress manufacturers reported a 5% drop, and upholstered furniture sales fell by approximately 8%. The segment for living room, dining room, and bedroom furniture, as well as furniture parts, experienced an 11.2% revenue decrease.
Exports to France, the most important market, dropped by nearly 7% to Euro 1.3 billion. Sales also declined in Switzerland (-6.2%), Austria (-8.1%), the Netherlands (-11.9%), and the United Kingdom (-2.9%). However, shipments to the United States increased by 1.3% to Euro 253 million, with kitchen furniture sales growing by 13%.
Orders for kitchen, upholstered, and living room furniture fell by nearly 5% on average throughout the year. The number of employees in the 414 companies with at least 50 employees decreased by 5.4% to 71,231. The association forecasts slight revenue growth in the low single-digit percentage range for 2025.
