Germany remains the world's top producer of woodworking machinery, according to estimates published by the German Engineering Federation (VDMA). Production reached € 3.1 billion in 2004, an increase of 6 %. The number of companies declined slightly to 220. More than 19,500 persons were employed in the industry. The 120 member firms of VDMA's Woodworking Machinery Association, which includes producers of machine tools, accounted for about 90% of total industry turnover.
Foreign sales up
The domestic market remained stable, and the export quota in the German woodworking industry was 65%, according to the statement of Dr.-Ing. Werner Neubauer at Ligna+ 2005. Total exports increased by 5% to € 2 billion. The top regions and the percentage of total exports are as follows:
Western Europe: 37 %
Eastern Europe: 25 %
Asia: 19 %
North America: 13 %
While the importance of the non-European regions remained roughly the same, a noticeable shift took place in Europe. There was a decline in Western Europe and a significant increase in Eastern Europe.
The largest markets are the US (€ 224 million, - 4 %), the People's Republic of China (€ 168 million, + 3 %), France (€ 131 million, + 2 %), Russia (€ 128 million, - 5 %) and Poland (€ 99 million, + 12 %). The Turkish market grew by 37% (€ 85 million) to become the sixth largest importer.
Bookings for Q1 2005 indicate that the turnover trend will be positive for the year as a whole. The 860 German exhibitors will use a net space of 60,000 m² at LIGNA+ 2005 and expect that the show will provide significant stimulus for international trade.
World market leaders
The five largest German producers of woodworking machinery are also world market leaders in their respective segments:
Homag Group (furniture production)
Siempelkamp (wood-based materials plants)
Weinig Group (solid wood processing)
Dieffenbacher (wood-based materials plants)
Festool (electrical tools)
German wood industry
For the first time in years, the German wood industry experienced growth last year. Turnover increased by 3% to € 37 billion. The furniture industry, which is the largest segment, grew by 1.4% to € 20 billion. Growth in the other segments was 5.3%
The carpentry business is the most important branch of the woodworking crafts segment. In 2004, 42,400 companies with 196,300 employees achieved a turnover of € 16 billion.
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