In connection with the 2026 Carrefour International du Bois, Fibois Pays de la Loire partnered with Ifop Marketing to survey industry professionals about current conditions and their outlook.
While the economic climate calls for caution, wood continues to enjoy a high level of trust: 85% of respondents view it as a driver for the future, and 77% plan to develop new markets.
Géraldine Cesbron discusses the key findings of this survey and the strategies that will enable the industry to transform this confidence into sustainable growth.
Géraldine Cesbron
Deputy Executive Director of Fibois Pays de la Loire and Executive Director of the Carrefour International du Bois
On the occasion of the 2026 Carrefour International du Bois, why was it important for Fibois Pays de la Loire to gauge the sentiment of industry professionals and better understand their perception of the current economic climate?
The Carrefour International du Bois serves as a key barometer for the industry. It brings together French and international companies representing all sectors of the wood market in Nantes. In an uncertain economic climate, we felt it was essential to supplement the available data with direct insights from executives and industry professionals.
This survey allows us to objectively assess the challenges, measure companies’ confidence levels, and, above all, identify their growth prospects. For Fibois Pays de la Loire, this is a valuable decision-making tool: it helps us better understand companies’ needs so we can tailor our actions, guide our partnerships, and organize future editions of the Carrefour International du Bois in a way that closely reflects market realities.
Beyond providing a snapshot of current economic conditions, this approach also reflects the trade show’s mission: to serve as a forum for discussion, reflection, and foresight for the entire industry.
“The current tension is real, but it does not diminish the industry’s capacity for innovation or its relevance in the face of the major transitions currently underway.”
Géraldine Cesbron
Deputy Executive Director of Fibois Pays de la Loire and Executive Director of the Carrefour International du Bois.
The survey reveals a sector under pressure, particularly in the French market, but also a strong foundation of trust in wood as a material, which 85% of respondents view as a key driver. How do you explain this contrast?
This contrast reflects the difference between a challenging short-term economic climate and fundamentals that remain solid. Companies are currently facing a slowdown in certain markets—particularly in construction—as well as rising costs, regulatory complexity, and reduced visibility on investments. This legitimately fuels caution.
But at the same time, wood offers significant structural advantages. It is a renewable material that stores carbon and fully addresses the challenges of decarbonization, energy sovereignty, and regional development. It also enjoys a high level of trust among both specifiers and the general public.
Professionals, therefore, do not question the material’s potential. Rather, they emphasize the need to create the economic, regulatory, and industrial conditions necessary to transform this potential into orders and markets. The current tension is real, but it does not diminish the sector’s capacity for innovation or its relevance in the face of the major transitions currently underway.
Despite this caution, 40% of professionals anticipate an increase in their business over the next 12–18 months, and 77% plan to develop new markets. In your opinion, what strategies should the sector employ to turn these intentions into sustainable momentum?
First and foremost, the industry must strengthen its ability to diversify, both in France and internationally. Developing new markets, expanding exports, and bringing together producers, processors, specifiers, and buyers will be crucial. This is precisely one of the missions of the Carrefour International du Bois: to create concrete business opportunities and facilitate connections.
Innovation will be a second key driver: new applications, the use of underutilized wood species, off-site construction, bio-based solutions, reuse, and the optimization of industrial processes.
This momentum can only be sustainable if it is a collective effort. Companies, industry associations, public authorities, technical centers, and training organizations must share a common vision, invest in skills, and make the solutions proposed by the sector more accessible.
