Branch Development

25.07.2006

        

Wood processing is one of the traditional productional and export activities of the Slovenian industry. Although organized beginnings of the manufacture and treatment of wood and wood products dates back to the 19th century, a more intensive development is characteristic of the period after World War II, when many still nowadays renowned furniture factories came into existence.

 

Wood processing industry reached its peak in the early Eighties, when most indicators (indicators of cost-effectiveness, profitability, income, investment, financing, size, equipment) were at least level with those of the Slovenian economy, some even better than the economic average. At that time approximately 35,000 workers in seventy odd companies were employed in the wood processing industry.

    

Wood processing industry is a labour-intensive activity and belongs in a narrow sense to the DD 20 subgroup - manufacture of wood and wood products and DN 36.1 subgroup - manufacture of furniture. From a broader perspective, wood processing industry is an integral part of the economy as its enterprises are engaged in commercial activity as their exclusive activity in compliance with the Companies Act.

 

With regard to the size of companies, Slovenian wood manufacturers do not deviate essentially from the average of the processing industry. In both segments of the wood processing branches (20 and 36.1) there exists a very high concentration of companies as the great majority of economic operations (employment, turnover, gross added value, exports etc.) are centered only in a small number of large companies.

    

Within the framework of the processing industry the Slovenian wood processing branch is ranked in the first third of the most important sectors; compared with the wood processing sector of the European Union with regard to employment, turnover and gross added value, it has an almost twice greater significance.

 

Author: Furniture and Wood Processing Association