The German furniture industry's export business stabilised in the first quarter of this year. According to the preliminary foreign trade statistics of the Federal Statistical Office, furniture exports reached approximately €2 billion, almost reaching the previous year's level (minus 0.5 percent), after a decline of 5.5 percent for the whole of 2024.

Meanwhile, developments in the most important foreign markets were mixed in the first quarter. German furniture deliveries to the main sales market, France, fell by 2.2 percent to €317 million. Exports to Austria (minus 0.3 percent), the Netherlands (minus 2.2 percent), the United Kingdom (minus 7.4 percent), and Belgium (minus 2.1 percent) also declined.

In contrast, exports to Switzerland (plus 2.9 percent), the second most important sales region, developed positively. Significant increases were also achieved in Italy (plus 8.9 percent) and Spain (plus 11.6 percent), currently the fastest-growing housing market in Europe. Furniture exports to the United States also grew strongly by 9.6 percent. 'The increase in furniture exports to the American market may have been due to anticipatory effects as a result of the impending US tariffs,' says Jan Kurth, Managing Director of the Associations of the German Furniture Industry (VDM/VHK).

According to Kurth, American trade policy also influenced furniture imports to Germany, which rose by 17 percent to around €3 billion. The sharp increase in imports from China (plus 37 percent) and Vietnam (plus 23.5 percent) is likely partly due to diversionary effects resulting from US tariff policy. China thus moved back into first place among the supplying countries, ahead of Poland. 'In an already challenging market environment in Germany, the additional volumes from Asia are increasing the pressure on our manufacturers even further,' Kurth said.
 

Source: vhk-herford.de