German Furniture Industry Revenue Declines for Fourth Consecutive Year

German furniture industry revenue declines for fourth consecutive year

Germany: The German furniture industry recorded a further decline in revenue in the first half of 2026. According to data from the Association of German Furniture Manufacturers (VDM), 374 surveyed companies generated EUR 7.67 billion (USD 9.02 billion) in sales between January and June, down 2.7% from the same period in 2025. This marks the fourth consecutive year of declining industry revenue, with the sector having lost around 20% of its revenue since 2023. Domestic revenue fell 4.1% to just under EUR 5 billion (USD 5.88 billion), while export sales remained broadly stable at EUR 2.70 billion (USD 3.18 billion), down 0.1%. The export ratio increased to 35.2%.

Performance varied across furniture segments. Kitchen furniture revenue increased by 1% to EUR 2.91 billion (USD 3.42 billion), accounting for 38% of total industry revenue, while its export ratio reached 47%. Upholstered furniture revenue declined by 10%, while living room, dining room and bedroom furniture recorded a decline of around 5%. Office furniture sales also fell by approximately 5%. Order intake indicated continued pressure, with orders for living room, dining room and bedroom furniture down around 11% and upholstered furniture orders down around 9% compared with the previous year. Kitchen furniture orders recorded a slight increase.

Source: Moebel Kultur