The international trade in furniture is steadily increasing because of ongoing globalisation and as a result of more and more national markets opening up. Experts forecast that cross-border trade figures will rise from US$82 billion in 2005 to US$92 billion in 2007. Trading networks are expanding worldwide, and the volume of furniture produced for export continue to rise. The furniture market has become international.
The German furniture industry
Germany is the most important furniture market in Europe. On average, Germans spend about €500 per year on decorating their homes, with €360 of this for new furniture. This puts Germany at the top of the worldwide list when it comes to purchases of furniture per capita. Thus, the development of the German furniture industry gives cause for optimism. Sector turnover totalled €17.2 billion in 2005, up by 1.9 per cent compared to the previous year. Currently the 1,125 companies of the German furniture industry employ 105,000 people.
Source: www.hdh-ev.de |
