GERMANY – The consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic made themselves felt in German foreign furniture trade in the first nine months of 2020.

Compared to the previous year, German furniture exports fell by 7.3 percent to 5.2 billion euros, as the official statistics show. Double-digit losses were recorded in Great Britain, the United States, Spain and Poland, among others.

In contrast, exports to Switzerland (plus 4.3 percent) and China (plus 7.7 percent) increased. “While domestic demand developed positively after the furniture trade was reopened in spring, the lockdown measures in various countries, international travel restrictions and the negative effects of Brexit made themselves felt in foreign trade,” reports Jan Kurth, Managing Director VDM (Association of the German Furniture Industry).

Of the furniture divisions, the German kitchen furniture industry recorded the most moderate decline in exports, down 2.2 percent to 1.5 billion euros. There was a decline in exports to France, the most important export market, as well as to Belgium, Switzerland, Great Britain, Spain and the United States.

On the positive side, China stands out in 7th place with growth of almost 37 percent, which is evidenced by the country’s rapid economic recovery after the Corona crisis. There was also an increase in exports to the Netherlands (plus 7.7 percent).