Furniture imports decline 22% in first half

Total value amounts to $9.1 billion

Thomas Russell -- Furniture Today, November 11, 2009

HIGH POINT — U.S. furniture imports fell 22% for the first six months of 2009 as consumer demand skidded during the recession, according to new figures from U.S. government sources.

Numbers compiled by Furniture/Today's market research staff from U.S. Customs Service, Census Bureau and International Trade Commission data showed that furniture imports in the first half were just under $9.1 billion, down from $11.6 billion in the same period in 2008.

Of the top 20 countries shipping furniture to the U.S., 17 saw double-digit drops during the period. Two, Vietnam and France, fell 6%, while only one - Poland - posted a gain, an 86% jump to $103.4 million that placed it at No. 9 on the list.

China retained its No. 1 spot, although its first-half shipments to the United States fell 19% to $5.4 billion.

Remaining a distant second was Vietnam, whose shipments fell 6% to $612.7 million.

No. 3 source Canada's shipments fell 44% - the sharpest drop among the top 10 countries - to $580.9 million from $1.03 billion a year ago.

In order, it was followed by Mexico (down 22% to $415.5 million); Malaysia (down 15% to $290 million); Italy (down 43% to $257.9 million); Indonesia (down 22% to $235.9 million); Taiwan (down 23% to $216 million); Poland (up 86% to $103.4 million) and Thailand (down 19% to $95.7 million).

Further down the list were Germany (down 35% to $91.3 million); France (down 6% to $62.7 million); Brazil (down 40% to $54 million); Austria (down 41% to $49.7 million); the Philippines (down 52% to $41 million); India (down 13% to $40.9 million); the United Kingdom (down 30% to $35.5 million); Sweden (down 23% to $26.9 million) Norway (down 32% to $25.7 million) and Denmark (down 25% to $24.9 million).

For many source countries, shipments dropped more sharply in the first half of this year than they did for all of last year. For all of 2008, total U.S. furniture imports were down 6% from 2007, to $22.6 billion.