Volume and State of the Furniture Market in 2024
2024 was a year of both challenges and opportunities for the Ukrainian furniture industry — a time for rethinking business processes and adapting to new conditions. The war continues to affect logistics, production, and exports. At the same time, international support and access to new markets have driven the restoration of economic activity. This report provides an in-depth analysis of domestic and international demand, exports, imports, and outlines key problems and challenges for entrepreneurs.
Number of Active Business Entities
| Economic activity type | Code NACE Rev.2 | total | entrepreneurship entities with number of employees 0 persons | entrepreneurship entities with number of employees from 1 to 4 persons | entrepreneurship entities with number of employees from 5 to 9 persons | entrepreneurship entities with number of employees from 10 and more persons |
| furniture manufacturing | 31.0 | 7810 | 5297 | 1670 | 466 | 377 |
Source: State Statistics Service of Ukraine
Economic Context in 2024
Ukraine showed moderate GDP growth of 3.8% thanks to international support and business resilience. However, the main challenges were:
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Power outages due to shelling
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Labor shortages caused by mobilization and migration
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Inflation rising to 11% by year-end, reducing purchasing power
Furniture Export
In 2024, Ukrainian furniture exports reached $909 million, which is 15.6% higher than the previous year and only 13% below the 2021 peak of $1.05 billion.
Top export destinations:
Poland – 28.6%
Germany – 21.1%
Denmark – 5.6%
Austria – 5.2%
Belgium – 5.1%
Romania – 3.1%
France – 3.1%
UK – 2.5%
Other – 25.9%
Source: State Customs Service of Ukraine
UAFM Member Survey Results
Sales Forecast for 2025:
- Growth over 70% – 10%
- Growth of 20–70% – 50%
- Growth up to 20% – 30%
- Decline up to 20% – 5%
- Decline of 20–70% – 5%
Key Takeaways:
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90% of companies expect growth in 2025
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Half predict significant growth (20–70%)
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One-third expect moderate growth (up to 20%)
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10% foresee strong growth (over 70%)
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Only 10% anticipate a decline in sales
Interpretation:
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General business outlook is positive
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Expectations favor stability or dynamic growth
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Growth over 70% suggests innovation or export-focused strategies in some companies
Top Business Challenges (%):
| Problem | % |
| Lack of qualified personnel | 85% |
| Unpredictability of Ukraine’s development and domestic market | 70% |
| Lack of clients in the domestic market | 45% |
| Lack of export orders | 40% |
| Decreased purchasing power | 35% |
| Power outages | 25% |
| Rising cost of raw materials and components | 25% |
| Lack of capital | 25% |
| Logistics constraints (costs, border delays) | 20% |
| High competition from imports | 10% |
| Regulatory or fiscal barriers | 5% |
| Plagiarism | 5% |
| No issues | 5% |
Priority Areas (%):
| Priority | % |
| Entering new markets | 55% |
| Staff training | 20% |
| Investment in automation | 20% |
| Business model changes | 10% |
Key Trends for Furniture & Door Sector in 2025:
| Trend | % |
|---|---|
| Growth in exports to EU & other markets | 85% |
| Digitalization of sales processes (online orders, virtual showrooms) | 30% |
| Demand for budget segment due to economic situation | 20% |
| Rising demand for Ukrainian design products | 10% |
| Eco and energy-efficient solutions | 10% |
| Recovery in premium furniture segment | 10% |
| New materials (wood-metal, alternative coatings) | 10% |
| Increased import competition | 10% |
Recommendations for Furniture Companies:
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Diversify sales markets — target non-EU countries.
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Invest in automation and modernization to reduce reliance on manual labor.
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Implement eco-standards to meet European buyer expectations.
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Enhance staff qualifications and create new training programs with industry associations.
Revenue Dynamics of the Furniture Industry (2020–2024)
The Ukrainian furniture industry experienced income fluctuations during 2020–2024 due to external crises, war, logistical issues, and reduced purchasing power.
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2021 marked the peak, with a 33% increase to over 42.5 billion UAH
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In 2022 and 2023, revenues dropped 25% and 19% respectively due to full-scale invasion
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In 2024, the sector rebounded by 56%, reaching 40.4 billion UAH — nearly back to 2021 levels
This suggests the industry is adapting, shifting toward exports, or benefiting from restored domestic consumption. It holds strong recovery potential in a stable environment with support.
| Year | Revenue (million UAH) | Year-on-Year Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 31,979.65 | — |
| 2021 | 42,547.93 | +33% ▲ |
| 2022 | 31,922.11 | -25% ▼ |
| 2023 | 26,006.35 | -19% ▼ |
| 2024 | 40,476.91 | +56% ▲ |
Sources: State Tax Service of Ukraine, Opendatabot
Sources:
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State Statistics Service of Ukraine — www.ukrstat.gov.ua
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State Customs Service of Ukraine — www.customs.gov.ua
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Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting — www.ier.com.ua
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Diia.Business — www.business.diia.gov.ua
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Opendatabot — www.opendatabot.ua
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State Tax Service of Ukraine — www.tax.gov.ua
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UAFM Participant Survey
About UAFM:
The Ukrainian Association of Furniture Manufacturers is a national union of entrepreneurs and companies operating in the furniture market. Our work focuses on developing both our members and the industry at large.
Founded: September 22, 2001
Mission: Creating a better furniture environment in Ukraine through the growth of each UAFM member
Vision: UAFM is a center for cluster creation, expertise, education, and industry unification
By Business Size
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Micro – 15%
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Small – 63%
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Medium – 13.6%
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Large – 8.4%
(344 companies total)
Company Scale Definition:
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Micro: 1–9 employees, turnover up to €2M
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Small: 10–49 employees, turnover up to €10M
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Medium: 50–249 employees, turnover up to €50M
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Large: 250+ employees, turnover over €50M
By Activity Sector (344 companies):
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Manufacturers – 73%
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Suppliers – 16%
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Designers – 5.7%
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Media – 2.4%
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Educators – 1.8%
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Retailers – 0.3%
