SPAIN – International sales in the Spanish furniture sector remain nearly unchanged in 6M-2024 from the same period last year, showing a slight increase of 0.9%, totaling EUR 1.54 billion.

Meanwhile, Spanish furniture imports have risen by 3.4% during the first half of the year.

The Autonomous Communities that exhibited the highest growth in the first half of the year were Galicia (+18.0%), Aragón (+13.5%), and the Basque Country (+13.0%). Conversely, regions with the highest export volumes, such as Catalonia, the Valencian Community, Madrid, and the Region of Murcia, experienced a decline in international furniture sales between January and June 2024.

France continues to lead, accounting for 27.8% of total Spanish furniture exports. However, the 3.2% decrease in exports to France, along with falling sales to other important markets like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Morocco, has impacted total export figures for the first half of the year.

The United States has dropped from third to fourth place among destinations for Spanish furniture, with a decrease of 10.9% between January and June 2024. Morocco (-22.6%) and the United Kingdom (-12.4%) are also significant markets, not only due to their size but also because of ongoing projects requiring furniture. These markets must be continuously supported to recover sales volumes and capitalize on the vast business opportunities they present.

According to Jorge Mariner, President of ANIEME (Spanish National Association of Furniture Manufacturers and Exporters), “International sales in the Spanish furniture sector increased during the first half of 2024, though the growth rate has slowed. In recent years, Spanish furniture companies have made tremendous efforts to adapt to the changing global context. However, this is not enough. ANIEME reiterates the importance of boosting investment in the international promotion of Spanish furniture brands, as internationalization is key to the growth of companies and the sustainability of employment in our sector.”