The office furniture market in Europe grew 4.7% in 2015, reaching a total value of EUR 7.8 billion. Germany, France, and the UK drove growth above the European average, while Southern Europe saw flat or declining performance. New European member countries grew faster than average at 6.8%. Imports and exports both increased in 2015, with imports up 6.9% and exports up 6%, leading to an overall positive trade balance and 4.5% production growth. Germany and Italy remained the largest exporting countries.

1. ccording to the 2016 edition of the
CSIL Report ‘The European Market
for Office Furniture’ (now enlarged to
30 countries), the office furniture mar-
ket in Europe increased by 4.7% in 2015
reaching a total value of EUR 7.8 billion. For
the second year in a row, the European mar-
ket (30 countries) grew and strengthened the
rebound. The largest markets like Germany,
France (+7%) and the United Kingdom
pushed the growth performing over the
European average.
The market trend continued to be weak in
Southern Europe with flat performances for
Italy and Spain. Also Portugal and Greece
experienced significant reduction. A relevant
drop has been registered in Norway,
Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands.
New European Member countries, represent-
ing 12% of the whole market, grew consistent-
ly over the European average and registered
+6.8% comparing to the previous year.
Poland and the Czech Republic are the
largest markets of this countries group and
they performed well in 2015.
Market openness increased in 2015 with
www.worldfurnitureonline.com 11WF • September 2016
SPECIAL REPORT
MARKETS
OFFICE FURNITURE & WORKPLACES
A
by Mauro Spinelli
CSIL Industry Studies
imports/consumption ratio growing to 35.5%
in the year and exports/production ratio grow-
ing to 39%, thus gaining one percentage point
on the previous year. The old European
Members (Europe 17) recorded a degree of
openness of 36% while New European
Members (Europe 13) showed a lower
import/consumption ratio (32%). Main import-
ing countries are Germany, France and the
United Kingdom.
In 2015 imports of the European Countries
reached EUR 2,795 million, increasing by
6.9% on the previous year. Over 71% of these
imports came from countries members of the
Europe-30 area .
Despite the high growth rate of imports, the
trade balance remained positive in 2015
(+ EUR 319 million).
Export performance has been more marked
with +6% in 2015 in comparison to 2014 and
total exports of the area reached EUR 3,186
million. Fastest growing destinations have
been North America, Latin America (+30%
each) followed by Asia and the Middle East
(+17% each), while exports to Africa and
Russia decreased.
About 39% of the European exports originat-
ed in Germany and Italy, which represent the
main manufacturering countries of office furni-
ture. Market openness is higher for Italy
where exports account for over 64% of total
output (27% for Germany).
The increases of both the domestic and
export markets drove the production growth
by 4.5%. The New European Countries
(Europe-13) recorded a better performance
than the Europe-17 countries, but they
account for only 14% of the total production
(10% in 2005).
Over the last few years a relevant part of man-
ufacturing investments addressed Eastern
Europe. Following the process of EU consoli-
dation, the industrial presence in West and
East Europe has seen a progressive integra-
tion, with some of the leading players expand-
ing manufacturing activities especially in
Poland and the Czech Republic. Some fast
increasing Eastern players started to expand
towards Western Europe making acquisitions
in Germany and Switzerland. In fact, today,
the third largest player in Europe is Polish
owned.
THE OFFICE FURNITURE
MARKET IN EUROPE
EUROPE*. PRODUCTION, CONSUMPTION, INTERNATIONAL TRADE, PRICES
AND OPENNESS OF THE OFFICE FURNITURE MAKET, 2014-2015
Source: CSIL processing (*) Total values for Europe 28 countries + Norway and Switzerland

2. SOME OF THE MAIN EVENTS (2015-2016) IN THE OFFICE FURNITURE SECTOR
2016:
- In March, Svoboda Group announced the sale of their company FAW (Fun-At-Work) Consultancy to Hali and both Austrian leading companies
entered in partnership.
- In January the Danish Tvilum announced the construction of a new production plant in Poland to be operational by the end of 2016.
2015:
- As of 11 December 2015, Bene AG shares are no longer traded on the Vienna Stock Exchange.
- In October Belgian TDS Office Design declared bankruptcy.
- In August Nowy Styl Group took over the Swiss office furniture manufacturer Sitag.
- In June Haworth Switzerland AG took over the product rights of ZKD Büromöbel AG.
- In June Scandinavian Business Seating Group (SB Seating) acquired BMA Ergonomics BV.
- In June Fritz Hansen acquired the Danish lighting fixtures manufacturer Lightyears.
- In February, the British DAMS acquired Morris Contract Furniture.
- In January, following a EUR 20 million investment, Steelcase opened a huge production facility in the Czech Republic and one of its German plants
(Durlangen) has been phased out.
- In January the Pavan family, with long experience in the office furniture business, decided to acquire Castelli and to restart the production activities.
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SPECIAL REPORT
MARKETS
OFFICE FURNITURE & WORKPLACES
12 September 2016 • WF
DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS
Generally speaking, the office furniture distri-
bution shows a high degree of specialisation,
with direct sales and office furniture special-
ists accounting for almost 83% on average.
Among alternative channels, e-commerce is
gaining ground with an increasing number of
e-commerce retailers specialising in selling
professional furniture.
Over the last years, European distribution of
office furniture recorded slight changes. The
“direct channel” accounts for about 32% of
European office furniture sales (decreasing in
2015), while “specialist dealers” represent
51% of total sales (stable). “Non-specialist
dealers” showed downward trend, while
“other” channel (especially e-commerce) pro-
gressively increased.
EUROPE. EXPORTS OF OFFICE FURNITURE, 2010-2015. MILLION EUR AND % CHANGE
Source: CSIL processing of official data
NEW! Starting from the 28th edition this year, the geographical perimeter of the CSIL report ‘The European Market for Office Furniture’
has been enlarged from 16 to 30 European countries.
The addition comprises the Central-Eastern European Countries: Poland (PL), Czech Republic (CZ), Slovakia (SK), Hungary (HU), Romania
(RO), Slovenia (SL), Croatia (HR), Bulgaria (BG), Cyprus (CY), Malta (MT), Estonia (EE), Latvia (LV) and Lithuania (LT). For more information
about CSIL report “The European Market for Office Furniture” please contact: csil@csilmilano.com
Online purchase and immediate download of all CSIL reports at: www.worldfurnitureonline.com
CSIL corporate website at: www.csilmilano.com