Cutlery, Hand Tool & General Hardware Manufacturing in France - Market Size, Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecasts (2025-2029)

Cutlery, Hand Tool & General Hardware Manufacturing in France industry analysis

The performance of the Cutlery, Hand Tool and General Hardware Manufacturing industry has been very volatile over the past five years. The main customers for tools are manufacturing companies and households. Volatile market conditions, slower consumer demand and fluctuations in the prices of key raw materials (like steel) have been key drivers of the industry’s recent performance. According to the World Steel Association, steel prices rose by up to 110% in 2021 due to solid pent-up demand and shortages of raw materials and intermediates after the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. After significant revenue growth in 2021 and 2022, driven by rising metal prices, the industry faced rising energy and inflation rates, which pushed up production prices and slowed consumer demand, denting sales. Overall, revenue is expected to climb at a compound annual rate of 3.9% over the five years through 2025 to reach just shy of €4.5 billion, including an estimated fall of 1.8% in 2025. Steel and iron prices are expected to fall further in 2025, increasing manufacturers’ price competitiveness but dampening revenue growth.

Trends and Insights

• Cheap imports from China challenge European manufacturers. In response, manufacturers in countries like France, Italy and Spain focus on enhancing product design, durability and specialisation, leveraging their 'Made in Europe' label and prioritising eco-friendly production to attract customers.
• Global manufacturers influence the hand tool market. In a volatile economy, consumers opt for cheaper metal hand tools from overseas producers, impacting domestic manufacturers' share in the market.
• The industry exhibits moderate concentration. Europe's Cutlery, Hand Tool and General Hardware Manufacturing industry is highly fragmented and populated with many competitors offering a wide range of products and services.