The wood market - Italy (2023)

1.1 Definition and presentation

The term wood is known to refer to the plant tissue that makes up the stem of plants having secondary growth, such as trees, shrubs, etc. Wood is regarded as a structural product of plants and is characterized by high strength and endurance. For this reason it is used by man for a wide variety of purposes: it can be processed and thus be carved, it can be used as a fuel for heating, it can be used as a building material, and finally it is used for paper production being rich in cellulose fibers.

In terms of timber supply, Italy is characterized by a high scarcity of resources. As a result, much of the raw material used for industrial purposes is imported into Italy, while a high proportion of that produced locally is used as firewood. The forest area in Italy is in fact about 10 million hectares, with reference also to the properties of private individuals, municipalities, regions and the state, most of it located in hilly and mountainous areas. Over time, there has also been a reduction in the number of companies, especially of a private nature, dedicated to the management of forests and woodlands.

In the area of finished products, Italian industries devoted to wood furniture are recognized as world leaders in the sector and record high export numbers, particularly with regard to the European market where more than 20 percent of exports are made to Germany. Italy also records excellent figures in terms of exports of other wood products and with regard to the paper industry.

Most Italian operators active in wood processing are small and medium-sized companies grouped in large industrial districts, the most important of which are located in the Triveneto, Lombardy, Apulia and Marche.