Last year, the German furniture industry faced a significant decline in export business due to weak consumer demand in many markets. According to preliminary data from the Federal Statistical Office, furniture exports fell by 6% to about 8.4 billion euros. Manufacturers of upholstered furniture showed the largest decline of 10%, followed by manufacturers of kitchen furniture and furniture for living, dining and bedroom furniture, which recorded a decline of 9.5% in each segment.
In France, which is the most important market, furniture sales fell by 4.5% to 1.3 billion euros. While Switzerland, in second place, showed a slight decrease of 0.3%, other countries such as Austria (-11.6%), Netherlands (-7.4%), UK (-11.3%) and Belgium (-7.5%) recorded significant losses. At the same time, the growth of German furniture exports to Italy by 2.3% is encouraging.
Export markets outside Europe have developed unevenly. Exports of German furniture to the United States, the most important non-European market, fell by 10.6%. A 0.5% decrease in exports to China was also recorded. At the same time, demand in the Gulf countries has increased sharply, leading to an increase in exports to the United Arab Emirates by almost 96%. The country is a traditional hub for the entire Near and Middle East and has shown the highest growth among the most important foreign markets of the German furniture industry, although export volumes still remain at a relatively low level of 65 million euros. Exports to Saudi Arabia rose 2.6% amid the country's political and economic opening.
The industrial export quota—the share of goods shipped directly abroad by domestic furniture makers in total industry sales—remained nearly unchanged at 33.4% last year.
Market weakness also greatly affected furniture imports into Germany last year. According to official statistics, imports fell by almost 18% to around 9 billion euros. Poland remains the leading supplying country, despite a 4% drop in shipments to just under €2.9 billion. Approximately 32% of all furniture imported into Germany comes from this neighboring country to the east. A significant decline of 31.5% to €2.2 billion was recorded by the second largest supplier, China. There was also a decrease in furniture imports from Italy (-17.5%), Turkey (-4%), Romania (-12%) and the Netherlands (-24%).
