SPAIN - During the first six months of this year, there is a sharp decline in both exports and imports of furniture in Spain, as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, which has impaired commercial operations especially during the months of March, April and May.

Thus, during the period January-June 2020, sales abroad of Spanish furniture reached the figure of 888.4 million euros, which reflects a decrease of 21.5% with respect to the volume registered in the same period of the previous year.

France maintains its leadership as the first destination for Spanish furniture representing 31.3% of the total exported but with a decrease of 16.4% in the period against the first semester of 2019. France together with Portugal and Germany account for 51.3% of Spanish furniture exports, more than half of total Spanish furniture exports.

The United States ranks 4th in the destination rankings, down 10.6%, the lowest drop among the top destinations for Spanish furniture exports, denoting its purchasing capacity despite the global crisis we are in.

In the first half of 2020, Spain imported furniture worth 1,207.5 million euros, a figure that represents a decrease of 26% compared to the first six months of 2019. With this data, the sectoral balance shows a deficit of 319 million euros.