The German Industrieverband Büro und Arbeitswelt (IBA) has reported a slight revenue decline for office furniture manufacturers in the first half of 2024. Despite this setback, the industry is experiencing heightened interest in the Orgatec 2024 trade fair, held in Cologne from October 22 to 25.
Challenging market conditions
For the initial six months of 2024, the IBA noted a 3.0% decrease in office furniture production revenue, totalling approximately 1.2 billion euros. While sit-stand desks and space-defining elements had been in high demand for some time, this segment experienced a slightly above-average decline of 4.3%. The seating furniture segment remained relatively stable with a 1.1% drop compared to the same period last year. There was notable demand for upholstered furniture, chairs with homely designs, and flexible elements for communication and lounge areas. Both domestic and export businesses saw similar declines of -3.0% and -3.3%, respectively.
Photo: Dreamstime.
Many companies are holding back orders due to the poor overall economic situation and delays in new constructions and renovations. However, the high demand for Orgatec 2024 still reflects the ongoing search for suitable solutions by customers of office furnishers across various industries. 'The response has been overwhelming. This is evident from the large number of inquiries for trade fair tickets we are already receiving from architects, planners, and decision-makers across all economic sectors,' reported Stefan Kokkes, newly appointed Managing Director of the IBA.
Source: www.moebelmarkt.de