Assopannelli: Paolo Fantoni confirmed president

Assopannelli has confirmed Paolo Fantoni as president for the 2026-2030 term. His re-election took place during the association’s General Assembly. Within FederlegnoArredo, Assopannelli represents manufacturers of panels, plywood and semi-finished wood products. During the meeting, the new Presidential Council for the next term was also elected. “Our commitment over the next four years will be to strengthen the Association’s presence in relation to European legislative dossiers, continuing to call for regulatory simplification without compromising sustainability targets,” said Paolo Fantoni. “We also want to fully enhance the value of domestic raw materials and the wealth of expertise and recycling capabilities represented by our sector, while opening up new avenues for growth through internationalisation and greater trade protection for our companies.”

Made largely from recycled wood, panels are a strategic component of the wood and furniture supply chain and of the Italian circular economy. The sector is worth more than €2.3 billion and grew by 2 per cent in 2025 compared with the previous year. According to data from the FederlegnoArredo Research Centre, production intended for the Italian market, which accounts for 58 per cent of the total, increased by 3 per cent, exceeding €1.3 billion. Exports, worth €979 million, rose by 1.1 per cent, with differing trends across the various segments: plywood and other panels declined, while particleboard, veneers and MDF recorded positive results. Imports grew at a double-digit rate, up 14 per cent, reaching €1.4 billion in 2025 and exceeding the value of production intended for the Italian market. Industrial panel production was stable in January-May 2026, up 0.8 per cent, against a 4.6 per cent decline in the wood industry. Prices were also stable over the same period, rising by 0.6 per cent, in a context in which the wood industry recorded strong price pressures, up 3.7 per cent, mainly linked to wood raw materials. Exports in January-March 2026 closed with a 1.1 per cent increase, while imports recorded slight growth of 3.3 per cent.

These figures are closely linked to the legislative dossiers at the centre of the Assembly’s discussions, from CBAM to the EUDR, whose postponement to 2026 and the simplifications achieved respond to the requests put forward by the Federation together with European stakeholders.

Assopannelli will continue to work on these issues in coordination with the EPF, the European Panel Federation, the main European association representing the wood-based panel industry, contributing to discussions on the key regulatory dossiers affecting the competitiveness of companies.

The association’s priorities also include the revival of poplar cultivation, following the new agreement signed in September 2025 with the five Regions of the Po Valley and Veneto area to strengthen national self-sufficiency in raw materials, as well as the process aimed at obtaining Protected Geographical Indication status for derived products.

With regard to End of Waste, the association is also continuing its efforts to safeguard a wood recycling system that is among the most efficient internationally, enhancing the role of companies in the transition towards an increasingly circular economy.

“These are significant challenges and are not always easy to address, but thanks to teamwork and FederlegnoArredo’s commitment, we are able to bring the voice of our companies to institutional decision-making tables, protecting the sector’s competitiveness and enhancing a raw material that is versatile and inherently sustainable, such as wood,” Fantoni concluded.

The Assembly also focused on training. The fifth edition of the Master in Sensorial Surface Design, promoted together with the Politecnico di Milano to meet the growing demand for expertise in surfaces, CMF design, interiors and furniture, will begin in October. Through lectures, industry testimonials and project work carried out with companies and sector experts, the programme trains professionals capable of designing the sensory, emotional and functional experience of spaces and objects. This fifth edition once again confirms the involvement of Assopannelli and its member companies.

During the Assembly, the Assopannelli Presidential Council for the 2026-2030 term was elected. Alongside Paolo Fantoni, President of Assopannelli and Board Member responsible for the Particleboard Group, will be Nicoletta Azzi, Board Member responsible for the Plywood Group; Pierluigi Corti, Board Member responsible for the Surfaces Group; Alessandro Corazza, Board Member responsible for the Semi-finished Products Group; Susanna Brivio; Enrico Bonzano; Luciano Caspani; Giuseppe Conti; Stefano Dall’Ozzo; Giovanna Frati; Giuseppe Invernizzi; Esat Bayram Ozoguz; Stefano Saviola; Marco Solari; and Andrea Tagliabue.