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6    MARKET BEATS                                                                  JAN/FEB 2026 FDM ASIA | www.fdmasia.com






         Sailko                                              actual forest cover, or areas densely populated with trees.
                                                               As a result, total wood exports to the Philippines amounted
                                                             to $832  million  in  2024, with  China  accounting for over half
                                                             of the market share at $439 million.
                                                               The US was the seventh-largest exporter to the country
                                                             during the same period, representing three percent of the total.

                                                               With a value of $22 million, the US shipped sawn, chipped,
                                                             sliced, or peeled pine and other coniferous wood, cooperage
                                                             products, non-coniferous veneer sheets, cross-sections of pine,
                                                             sawn, chipped, sliced, or peeled oak wood, and pallets to the
                                                             country in the year of 2024.
                                                               The USDA expects exports to  remain on  an upward
            More than half of the exports for the year consist of   trajectory  in  2026  and  beyond  as  demand  for  hardwood
          softwood lumber, which is commonly used in construction   and glue-laminated wood rises. Both wood varieties are also
          and furniture manufacturing.                       commonly used in construction.

            The foreign agency said the country saw higher consumption
          of this wood variety due to a revival in demand for condominium   Italy's wood and furniture exports maintain stability
          units after previously facing a large surplus.     despite global uncertainty
            “High-end condominiums and hotel residences are increasingly   The Italian wood and furniture sector is proving resilient in a
          in demand, driven by wealthy empty nesters and expats living   still complex international environment.
          in Metro Manila,” the report read.                   After a 4.7 percent decline in exports in August 2025 alone,
            Such demand is pushing developers to focus more on   the first eight months of the year remained essentially stable:

          premium living spaces that incorporate ergonomic and natural   the total value reached €12.7 billion, a slight decrease of 0.2
          designs, which typically require high-quality imported wood   percent. This is according to data from the FederlegnoArredo
          products.                                          research center, based on Istat, as reported by montenapodaily.
            In addition, growth in 2025 was also supported by public   com.
          infrastructure projects aligned with the government’s sustainability   In  the  manufacturing  sector,  the  furniture  industry  is
          objectives, including airports that incorporate sustainable wood   returning to growth. Industrial production rose by 4.3 percent
          and engineered timber in their designs.            in October, continuing the positive trend seen between January
            As the country increasingly embraces sustainable practices,   and October 2025 (+4.1 percent).
          the need for wood products is expected to rise, although   This turnaround follows two difficult years—2023 and

          local production will likely remain insufficient to meet demand.  2024—which were marked by significant declines after demand
            Despite having one of the most diverse forest ecosystems in   had been exceptionally high in the first two years after the
          the world, the country faces deforestation and land degradation   pandemic.
          due to shifting cultivation, land use conversion, forest fires,   2025 is therefore likely to be a year of return to more
          illegal logging, and demand for fuelwood.          normal levels, with the domestic market appearing to play a
            The USDA estimates that out of the total land area of 30   key role, thanks in part to the continued implementation of
          million hectares (ha), only seven million ha are considered   construction support measures.
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