Review on International Furniture Market

International Tropical Timber Organization

U N C TA D / W T O

International Trade Centre

International Wooden Furniture Markets
A review

Geneva 2004

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ABSTRACT FOR TRADE INFORMATION SERVICES
2005 SITC-821 INT

INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE UNCTAD/WTO (ITC) INTERNATIONAL TROPICAL TIMBER ORGANIZATION (ITTO) International wooden furniture markets: A review Geneva: ITC/ITTO, 2005. xxxii, 233 p. Review of wooden furniture markets in United States, Canada, China, Japan, Egypt, and selected countries in the European Union: France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Spain, Italy, Denmark, and Sweden – for each country, provides overview of basic demand factors and market drivers, domestic furniture industry, market trends and developments, distribution channels, and market access conditions; deals with technical standards, as well as, international and national certification schemes in the furniture sector; identifies furniture networks and clusters; outlines strategy for developing wooden furniture sector in tropical countries; outlines step-by step value-added processing of wooden furniture in tropical countries, based on local conditions; includes statistical data, selection of German furniture standards, list of useful contacts in China, and list of members of the Global Forest and Trade Network. Subject descriptors: Furniture, Wood products, Tropical wood, Value chain, Market surveys, United States, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Canada, China, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Egypt. English, French, Spanish (separate editions) ITC, Palais des Nations, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland ITTO, 5th Floor, Pacifico-Yokohama, 1-1-1, Minato-Mirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama, 220-0012 Japan

The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO and the International Tropical Timber Organization concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Mention of firm names and commercial products does not imply the endorsement of ITC and ITTO.

Digital image on the cover: © Antony Sandana, International Trade Centre © International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO and International Tropical Timber Organization 2005 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without prior permission in writing from the International Trade Centre and the International Tropical Timber Organization.

ITC/P175.E/PMD/MDS/05-IV

ISBN 92-9137-284-6 United Nations Sales No. E.05.III.T.2

Foreword
Wooden furniture industries make a substantial contribution to development in tropical countries, producing important economic benefits and playing a significant role in promoting economic growth. As wood-processing industries such as the wooden furniture sector develop, they create employment (which in turn expands the tax base in the country), generate a trained workforce, and contribute to the development of physical and institutional infrastructure. These industries also contribute to foreign exchange earnings and stimulate investment in a range of secondary support industries. With the publication of the joint ITTO–ITC report Wooden Household Furniture: A study of major markets in 1990, ITTO producer members fully recognized the potential of the wooden furniture sector in the context of sustainable development. However, given weaknesses in human resources and the absence of efficient processing technologies and marketing capacity in many tropical countries, it is not surprising that the current development of the wooden furniture sector remains less than optimal in many tropical countries. The...