Finiture legno-arredo: nel 2025 il settore supera i 4,3 miliardi, export a +11%

The finishing sector for construction confirms its strategic role within the wood–furniture supply chain. In 2025 the sector exceeded €4.3 billion in turnover, with exports growing by 11 percent, strengthening its role in the design of sustainable spaces and in improving the quality of living environments. These figures were discussed in Milan during the conference “Shaping the Future”, organised by EdilegnoArredo of FederlegnoArredo at the Triennale.

“It takes courage to face constantly evolving international scenarios, and that courage is what we see every day in our companies,” said Carlo Piemonte, Director General of FederlegnoArredo, opening the conference. “A courage that translates into the ability to enhance quality, expertise and craftsmanship – elements that make Made in Italy a globally recognised excellence.”

The discussion highlighted the dynamics of a sector that includes wooden flooring and wall coverings, wooden and wood-aluminium windows, interior doors and entrance doors. The focus was on design quality, sustainability and international competitiveness, with particular attention to the growing importance of living wellbeing in architectural and social debate.

“Thanks to increasingly tailor-made creations and the very high quality of materials, finishes are becoming true furnishing elements, protagonists both in private homes and in coordinated projects for contract and hospitality,” said Andrea Bazzichetto, President of EdilegnoArredo. “The growth of exports confirms that this quality is recognised internationally: foreign markets choose Italian products not only for design and technical reliability, but also for the value they bring in terms of living comfort.”

The conference also gathered companies, designers and industry experts. Among the participants were Renza Altoè, board member responsible for the wooden flooring group of EdilegnoArredo; Alfiero Bulgarelli, president of Aziende Storiche Parquet; Lorenzo Onofri, president of the European Parquet Federation; and Veronica Squinzi, CEO and Global Development Director of the Mapei Group, who discussed the prospects of wooden flooring and the technological evolution of the sector.

Within this context, the “Manual of design and installation of wooden floors”, edited by EdilegnoArredo and published by Maggioli, was presented during the conference. The publication aims to strengthen technical skills and quality standards across the supply chain.

“It is not just a collection of operational guidelines, but a tool that reinforces a culture of quality and proper installation,” said Renza Altoè. “Product quality cannot be separated from installation quality: we want to provide the entire supply chain with a shared reference to support growth and competitiveness on international markets.”

The event also addressed the evolution of technical regulations at both national and international level, presented by engineer Rita D’Alessandro. Architect Alessandro Longo offered a broader reflection on the relationship between materials and emotions, emphasising the experiential value of building and living spaces.

Market dynamics and the need to strengthen a coordinated narrative around Italian know-how in the finishing sector were also discussed, with contributions from Gilda Bojardi, editor-in-chief of Interni, and Paola Sarco, Head of Building & Industrial Exhibition at Fiera Milano and CEO of Made Eventi.

SECTOR DATA
(Source: FederlegnoArredo Research Centre)

Wood–furniture finishes

In 2025 the production turnover of the construction finishing system exceeded €4.3 billion, marking a 0.4 percent increase compared with 2024. The domestic market – accounting for about 90 percent of total turnover – remained broadly stable at around €3.9 billion (–0.6 percent), despite the reduction of tax incentives. Exports reached €455 million, growing by 11 percent, with positive results across all segments and particularly strong performance in interior doors and wooden flooring.

France remained the main export destination for construction finishes, with €52 million recorded between January and November 2025. The United States strengthened its position as the second-largest market, while South Korea confirmed its role as the leading market for wooden flooring. Exports to China declined significantly, dropping out of the top ten and being replaced by the United Arab Emirates.

Wood–furniture finishes – Wooden flooring

After the peak reached in 2022 and the following slowdown, the wooden flooring segment returned to growth in 2025, with turnover increasing by 7 percent compared with 2024 and exceeding €570 million. Growth was mainly driven by exports, which reached €196 million, with South Korea and the United States among the leading markets. The domestic market also expanded by 3.7 percent, reaching €382 million.

Wood–furniture finishes – Doors and windows

Production turnover for companies manufacturing wooden and wood-aluminium windows, interior doors and entrance doors remained broadly stable in 2025, declining slightly by 0.5 percent to just under €3.8 billion. The Italian market accounted for 93 percent of production and recorded a slight decrease (–1.1 percent). Exports increased by 8 percent, approaching €260 million. Despite a more marked slowdown, France remained the main destination for Italian products, followed by Switzerland and the United States.