The carpentry market - Italy (2023)

1.1 Definition and presentation

Carpentry is the set of activities that woodworkers perform in the process of woodworking. A carpenter is a skilled craftsman who works in both craft and industrial settings. He is routinely involved in the design, construction, and assembly of wooden furniture and kitchens, as well as doors, windows, and hardware, and the fabrication and repair of woodwork. The carpenter's role as a craftsman is declining in Europe, but demand for wood structures and equipment remains strong. The expansion of wood construction is driven by new consumer demands, which include a desire for more ambitious style and design, but also for more attention to environmental and sustainable issues. In fact, wood is a more environmentally friendly material that also has functional strength and insulation characteristics, making it attractive to the construction market. The market is divided between large companies such as Ikea, with a strong and vertically integrated supply chain, and carpenters with their small, medium or large workshops.

In the US alone, the market value of the carpentry market has been estimated at $41.7 billion in 2021, with an expected CAGR of 9.4 % between 2021-2027. The global one, would not differ that much in terms of CAGR and size.

In Italy, the main image of the woodworking market is the small family-owned store that has been handed down for generations; now, the market has introduced new trends, particularly the dominance of multinational retailers in international trade. Despite this, wood continues to play an important role in many product manufacturing processes in Italy. The first market is furniture, in which wood has long played a leading role, especially because of its beauty and adaptability to various contexts. New technologies and equipment allow even the most creative professionals to experiment with new solutions by enabling them to perform ever new procedures and interventions on the raw material. Italians have long been passionate about fine craftsmanship. The Made in Italy brand of woodworking is highly recognized abroad, especially in Russia

Woodworking, like any other craft, now requires a high level of specialization. Not only must wooden objects be useful, but they must also be of high quality and have an appropriate aesthetic component. Large domestic companies that supply easy-to-use semi-finished products have been fueling the growth of the DIY woodworking sector in Italy for several years.