Furniture exports continued to grow in 2017

According to a study by the Spanish Furniture Market Observatory (OM) of AIDIMME (Technology Institute for Metalworking, Furniture, Wood, Packaging and Similar), Spanish furniture exports grew during 2017, taking a 43.2% share of National Production. The figure comes as good news for a sector that is continuing its trend of the last 8 years.

As the figures offered by the report show, Spanish furniture sales in foreign markets have grown to 1,885 million euros, accounting for a 43.2% share of furniture produced in Spain in 2017; this takes the foreign trade cover ratio for furniture to 71%. The figure shows the continued growth of the last four years, with 4,363 million euros in turnover, as indicated by the OM.

However, figures for the number of manufacturing companies in the sector are not particularly encouraging: down 1.87% in 2017, with micro-enterprises of fewer than 5 workers being the most affected. According to the report, the fall is due to specific cases of uncompetitive business models and there has been considerable growth in all sections in companies with 6 employees or more, driven along by the current dynamic market situation.

According to the report, the furniture industry remains strong with 6,775 companies employing 60,767 professionals. Most of the companies are located in Andalusia, the Region of Murcia, Valencia and Catalonia.