In 2025, the import and export pattern of China's furniture industry was affected by both fluctuations in the international trade environment and the transformation of industrial structure, showing a trend of deep adjustment. Although total export value declined, China's industrial position and supply capability as a global furniture export powerhouse remained solid.

Asia, Europe, and North America were the three main export markets for China's furniture industry, together contributing more than 80%. The share of emerging markets continued to rise, making the export layout more balanced and diversified. China's exports to countries such as the United Kingdom and the Netherlands increased particularly clearly. Domestically, Zhejiang and Guangdong remained the main export provinces, while Shanghai, Liaoning, and Xinjiang showed notable export growth. On the import side, Europe remained the main source region, with Italy and Germany firmly ranking in the top two. Within China, Shanghai ranked first in imports, while Fujian, Shandong, and Henan maintained good growth. In terms of trade modes, general trade remained dominant, with a slight adjustment in share, while new trade modes such as cross-border e-commerce showed strong growth vitality. The commodity structure continued to optimize, with seats, wooden furniture, and metal furniture as the main categories. Overall, through multidimensional optimization of market, trade, commodity, and regional structures, the industry demonstrated strong structural adjustment capability and market adaptability under external pressure. In 2026, uncertainty in the external environment will still be considerable, but the fundamentals of China's economy remain solid, and the long-term positive trend and supporting conditions have not changed. Standing at the strategic starting point of the 15th Five-Year Plan, China's furniture industry will continue accelerating brand development, green transformation, and high-end upgrading, constantly enhancing its voice and influence in the global industrial landscape.

Export value and growth rate. In 2025, the cumulative export value of China's furniture industry reached USD 67.81 billion, down 5.9% year on year from 2024 and down 2.2% from 2023. By quarter, export value in the first and second quarters of 2025 decreased by 8.3% and 5.2% respectively compared with the same periods in 2024, but both still achieved positive growth compared with the same periods in 2023. The third quarter increased by 0.6% year on year compared with 2024, making it the only quarter with positive year-on-year growth, but it fell 6.2% compared with 2023. Cumulative export value in the fourth quarter reached USD 17.633 billion, down 9.4% from the same period in 2024 and down 7.9% from the same period in 2023, making it the quarter with the largest year-on-year decline of the year.

Import value and growth rate. In 2025, China's cumulative import value reached USD 1.531 billion, down 5.4% year on year. From quarterly performance, fourth-quarter import value was USD 404 million, down 1.8% from the fourth quarter of 2024 and down 8.3% from the fourth quarter of 2023. Furniture imports have now contracted for three consecutive years. From the monthly perspective, China's import value reached a peak of USD 152 million in December 2025, down 0.5% from December 2024, with the decline narrowing by 8.8. percentage points compared with the previous month. From the cumulative perspective, the year-on-year growth rate of China's furniture imports has remained negative since 2023, but the decline in cumulative imports in 2025 was narrower than in the previous two years, indicating that downward pressure in the import market has eased somewhat.

Main international export markets. In 2025, China's furniture exports were concentrated in three major regions, Asia, North America, and Europe, which together accounted for 83.8% of total exports. Among them, exports to Asia reached USD 22.466 billion, accounting for 33.1% of the total and ranking first.

By country, the top 10 destinations for China's furniture exports in 2025 were the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, Germany, Malaysia, South Korea, Canada, the Netherlands, and Singapore, accounting for 55.9% of all exports. Among them, the United States, as the core export destination, accounted for 22.7% of the total export value.

Looking at export performance over the past three years, China's furniture exports to some of the top ten destination countries fell significantly. South Korea recorded the largest decline, falling 31.0% and 21.6% in 2025 compared with 2023 and 2024 respectively. The United States followed, with declines of 14.4% and 16.4% compared with 2023 and 2024. Malaysia ranked third, with decreases of 14.6% and 12.0% respectively. Exports to the United Kingdom and the Netherlands both showed upward trends, and the Netherlands rose to ninth place in 2025 with positive growth for two consecutive years.

Main source countries for imports. In 2025, China's furniture import market remained centered on Europe as the largest source region, with cumulative imports reaching USD 1.06 billion and accounting for 69.1% of total imports. Compared with the previous two years, the decline was obvious, falling 3.9% from 2024 and 17.5% from 2023. Asia was the second largest source region, with cumulative imports of USD 360 million and a share of 23.5%, also showing a continuous downward trend.

By country, the top 10 source countries for China's furniture imports in 2025 were Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, Poland, France, Thailand, Vietnam, and South Korea, accounting for 77.9% of total imports.

Source: Consumer Daily