The Furniture Sector in Pakistan: Export performance and ... - TRTA i
The Furniture Sector in Pakistan: Export performance and ... - TRTA i
The Furniture Sector in Pakistan: Export performance and ... - TRTA i
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Figure 2.3 Imports of Ch<strong>in</strong>ese furniture by major markets 2005 (US$ mill.)<br />
USA 6 919<br />
United 924<br />
K<strong>in</strong>gdom<br />
France<br />
260<br />
235<br />
Germany<br />
956<br />
Japan<br />
Ch<strong>in</strong>a: furniture<br />
factory of the World<br />
Source: Tissari, 2006<br />
Other Asian countries like Indonesia (exports US$1.3 billion), Malaysia (US$1.45 billion),<br />
Thail<strong>and</strong> (US$1.0 billion) <strong>and</strong> the Philipp<strong>in</strong>es (US$0.3 billion) have been able to create<br />
significant export <strong>in</strong>dustries, but have more recently become suppressed by Ch<strong>in</strong>a’s dom<strong>in</strong>ant<br />
supply position. Vietnam (US$1.15 billion), on the other h<strong>and</strong>, is <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly challeng<strong>in</strong>g even<br />
Ch<strong>in</strong>a <strong>in</strong> labour cost comparisons, <strong>and</strong> it has seen its furniture exports surge <strong>in</strong> the past five<br />
years. On the long term, Ch<strong>in</strong>a will champion the mass furniture segment with the help of the<br />
abundant labour reserves. However, the availability of wood poses a major challenge to Ch<strong>in</strong>a.<br />
From Lat<strong>in</strong> America, Brazil is the biggest exporter with US$0.78 billion furniture deliveries.<br />
Mexico was the second supplier with US$0.68 billion. Both countries benefit from proximity<br />
with the United States market. African countries are <strong>in</strong>significant <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>ternational furniture<br />
trade.<br />
<strong>Pakistan</strong> furniture exports<br />
<strong>Pakistan</strong>’s exports of wooden furniture totalled US$12.3m <strong>in</strong> 2005, over double the value<br />
exported five years early. Growth <strong>in</strong> exports of liv<strong>in</strong>g room furniture (not categorized under<br />
office, bedroom or kitchen) was the ma<strong>in</strong> contributor to this change. <strong>Pakistan</strong> has recently<br />
started to export bedroom <strong>and</strong> office furniture. <strong>Export</strong>s of these furniture types are ga<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />
ground very rapidly, although start<strong>in</strong>g from a small base. <strong>The</strong> United States, United K<strong>in</strong>gdom,<br />
UAE, Germany <strong>and</strong> Afghanistan are important dest<strong>in</strong>ations.<br />
16 International Trade Centre