China sees further growth in furniture exports
By Brian Carroll -- Furniture Today, December 3, 2001
HIGH POINT — The China National Furniture Assn. is touting the country's prowess as a manufacturer and exporter of furniture, something the U.S. furniture industry is well aware of. China for years has been this country's largest source of imported furniture.
According to the association, the Chinese furniture industry shipped $14.5 billion (wholesale) last year, compared to $156 million in 1978. About $4 billion of 2000's total was exported, the vast majority coming into the United States.
For two decades, China's furniture industry has been growing at an annualized rate of about 15%, according to Jia Qingwen, president of the association.
Also since 1978, China's population of furniture manufacturers has grown to 50,000 from 2,000, according to Jia, who was interviewed by Asia Pulse, an Asian news organization. Jia told Asia Pulse that China will ship $24 billion per year by 2010.
Cao Yingchao, also an official with the association, said the southern province of Guangdong accounts for more than half of China's furniture exports.
According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, China shipped $3.7 billion into the United States last year. China's trade association reports much smaller figures, saying $1.9 billion went to the United States in 2000, or 53% of its total furniture exports.
China's accession to the World Trade Organization should facilitate China's continued export growth. Tariffs imposed on furniture imports will drop to zero from the present 22% after accession.
