The Dutch furniture industry is currently in a challenging situation due to strong competition from Chinese furniture makers. Here, lower production costs and more efficient production processes in China play an important role. This allows many Chinese companies to offer products that are often attractive because of their value for money. This makes it difficult for European, and specifically Dutch, furniture makers to cope with this competition.
According to Jeroen van Hedel, an expert in the furniture industry, it is virtually impossible for European manufacturers to compete with the Chinese on value for money. He points out that operating costs are higher in Europe because of factors such as labor costs and environmental requirements. In contrast, Chinese companies benefit from economies of scale and lower production costs.
The recent Meble Polska Furniture Trade Fair showed that even successful European furniture brands often have their production done in China. This increased reliance on Chinese production capacity leaves little room for local manufacturers to hold their own. Even local stores often choose Chinese-made furniture because of its lower prices and wide availability. This further snatches market share away from local manufacturers.
Despite these challenges, Royal CBM, the trade association for the interior and furniture industry, believes there are still opportunities for local production. They see opportunities in niches and customization where personal touch and quality outweigh price. Kees Hoogendijk, director of CBM, emphasizes the importance of cooperation and innovation to compete.
Hoogendijk argues for a fairer playing field where production costs in Europe can be reduced through subsidies, for example, or where import tariffs on non-European products are reviewed. He argues that through joint efforts in research and development, European furniture manufacturers can benefit from innovative technologies and sustainable production methods.
For local production, joint efforts by manufacturers are crucial. Cooperation in areas such as logistics, marketing and sales can help reduce costs while keeping quality high. Hoogendijk cites as an example the sharing of production facilities and expertise between smaller manufacturers, which can result in stronger products at competitive prices.
In the future, the Dutch furniture industry will need to focus more on specialization and sustainability to maintain their competitiveness. These strategies can not only help strengthen competitiveness, but also affirm the Netherlands as a center for high-quality furniture design.
