GERMANY - The German furniture industry noticeably increased its export business in the first quarter of 2022. As determined by the Federal Statistical Office, furniture exports increased by 11.8 percent to EUR 2.1 billion compared to the same period of previous year.

"In a difficult market environment, which is characterized by delivery bottlenecks, inflationary tendencies and the first effects of the war in Ukraine, 'Furniture Made in Germany' has held its ground well," says Jan Kurth, Managing Director of the furniture associations (VDM/VHK).

In the most important sales market, France, furniture sales climbed by 5 percent. In Switzerland there was an increase of around 12 percent. There was also growth in exports to the Netherlands (12.3 percent), while exports to Austria fell by 1.6 percent.

German furniture manufacturers achieved an above-average increase of around 30 percent in exports to Great Britain, which had been adversely affected in previous years by the uncertainties surrounding Brexit and the pandemic.

After a good start to the year, exports to Russia were already severely slowed down in March by minus 37 percent due to the war. In February, 20 percent more furniture was exported to Russia than in the same month last year.

The German furniture industry recorded an increase of 29 percent in furniture sales to the United States, the most important non-European sales market. Exports to China increased by around 8 percent.

German furniture imports continued to develop dynamically in the first quarter with an increase of 19.6 percent to EUR 2.9 billion.