Furniture industry: Customers buy fewer sofas – sales collapse

New sofas and armchairs are currently not particularly in demand for customers. The upholstered furniture manufacturers in Germany implemented almost 540 million euros between January and July – around 7 percent less than in the same period in the previous year, as the Association of the German Upholstered Möbel Industries announced. The proceeds declined as early as 2024.

In Germany, sales even broke up by 10 percent in the first seven months. “The inclination of the Germans is still low,” said CEO Leo Lübke. Many people are unsettled by the economic situation and therefore reserved for larger purchases.

The number of orders was around 5 percent lower up to and including August than in the same period of the previous year. According to the association, one reason for this is the stagnant housing in Germany. “A move leads to furniture purchases, which also applies to the upholstery couch or the seating group,” said Managing Director Jan Kurth. The German upholstered furniture industry does two thirds of their sales.

The most important export market is Switzerland

The proceeds have recently only decreased slightly abroad. The most important export markets are Switzerland, Austria and France. Most upholstered furniture is imported from Poland and China. In Germany, the industry currently employs around 4,000 people – about 6 percent less than in the previous year.

The furniture industry in Germany is under pressure. People have been spending less money for sofas, tables, chairs and beds for a long time. As early as 2023 and 2024, the manufacturers recorded falling sales. Some companies also suffer from the new US tariffs.

For kitchen furniture manufacturers, things are going a little better this year: the order intake between January and August was 2.6 percent higher than in the same period last year.