In Canada, China now outsells U.S.
By Michael J. Knell -- Furniture Today, July 26, 2004
Ottawa — China became Canada's largest source of imported household furniture in 2003, displacing a longtime leader, the United States.
According to data from Industry Canada and Statistics Canada, household furniture imports from China rose 13.4% in 2003 to C$541.5 million, while shipments from the United States fell 10.3% to C$438.9 million.
China also has become the dominant player in Canada's metal and other non-wood furniture market, topping even homegrown manufacturers. Imports in the category rose 10.2% to C$220.8 million last year while Canadian producers' shipments to Canadian retailers fell 19.4% to C$213.4 million.
In this category, imports from China and elsewhere are now 63.7% of the apparent market. Metal imports from the United States fell 14.2% to C$91.1 million.
Meanwhile, it's in upholstery that Chinese factories saw their highest rate of growth. Shipments jumped from C$86.6 million in 2002 to C$121.5 million last year — a 40.3% advance. The United States continues to be the largest foreign upholstery source for Canadian retailers, although its shipments slipped 4% last year to C$192 million.
Total upholstery imports into Canada advanced 12% last year to C$441 million as other traditional sources, including Italy, held their own in what was at best a lackluster retail environment.
In the competitive case goods category, imports from China grew a relatively modest 4.7% last year to C$198.1 million. However, case goods imports from the U.S. plunged 21.5% to C$128.8 million.
In general, Canadian retailers see China as a source for more moderately priced goods while U.S. manufacturers have strength in the better and best niches.
Imports as a percentage of the apparent market for case goods fell two points from 27.5% in 2002 to 25.5% last year. Indeed, it was in case goods that Canadian factories saw their strongest growth in domestic sales as shipments to Canadian retailers rose 8.5% to C$1.86 billion.
Chinese bedding still isn't much of a factor in the Canadian market, with shipments declining 18.8% last year to C$1.3 million. U.S. bedding exports to Canada, however, grew a more than respectable 40.8% to C$26.9 million.
Domestically produced bedding still dominates the Canadian apparent market for bedding, with imports representing only about 4.1%.
