Page 18 - FDMAsia Jan/Feb 2026

16 FEATURES JAN/FEB 2026 FDM ASIA | www.fdmasia.com

CARVING THE FUTURE: THE 2026 OUTLOOK

FOR THE WOODWORKING INDUSTRY

The woodworking sector is expected to maintain its steady growth in the coming years, but changes
in consumer preferences and evolving global supply chain mean companies must continue to adapt
and optimise to stay ahead of the game. By Aileen Yeo

n 2026, the global woodworking industry stands at a Together, these segments form an economic powerhouse.
crossroads. Driven by digital innovation, shifting consumer Recent statistical estimates put the global woodworking
Idemand, sustainability imperatives, and evolving global industry’s value at approximately $888.8 billion in 2025, having
economics, this sector is redefining itself for the decades ahead. grown steadily over the past five years.
The coming years will see woodworking businesses Although 2026 specific figures are just emerging, projections
blend artisanal skill with smart technology, navigate economic suggest continued expansion as wood remains central to
complexity, and position themselves in a world where wood furniture, housing, construction, and specialty sectors.
products remain essential to homes, workplaces, infrastructure, Within this broader wood products landscape, the wood

and cultural identity. manufacturing market alone is forecast to increase from about
The woodworking industry is vast, encompassing timber $476.7 billion in 2025 to $490.4 billion in 2026, reflecting
harvesting, sawing and milling, furniture and cabinetry production, compound growth driven largely by rising construction activity,
engineered wood products, wood machinery manufacturing, furniture demand, and expanded mechanisation.
interior millwork, and related services. Furniture, the most visible segment of woodworking for

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