According to ESTACOM statistics, Spanish furniture exports grew at an annual rate of +5.5% to 1,692 million euros last year. France, Portugal, Germany, United Kingdom and Italy maintained their leading position among Spain’s major markets, making up almost 54% of total exports. Read more...
2. JANUARY – DECEMBER 2014: SPANISH FURNITURE
EXPORTS, IMPORTS AND SECTORIAL BALANCE
ANIEME - Spanish National Association of Furniture Manufacturers and Exporters
2013 2014 % 14/13
January-December 1,603 1,692 5.5%
According to ESTACOM statistics, Spanish furniture exports grew at an
annual rate of +5.5% to 1,692 million euros last year.
in million euros Source: ESTACOM
On the import side, figures indicate that, compared to 2013 results, Spain’s
furniture imports began to increase again to reach 2,254.1 million euros
(+15.2%).
Import and export figures reveal that the deficit of the Spanish trade
balance for 2014 amounted to -562.5 million euros, while the import/export
coverage ratio made up 75%.
3. Main markets for Spanish furniture
In 2014, five UE countries, France, Portugal, Germany, United Kingdom and Italy
maintained their leading position among Spain’s major markets, making up the 53.7% of
total exports.
With the exception of France, whose imports of Spain’s products fell by -4.8%, exports
increased remarkably to all the other four top importers driven by the recovery of
their domestic demand. Germany, in particular, registered the best result with an increase
of +32%. Sales to United Kingdom, which now ranks 4th, increased as well by +23.9%.
After the negative results of the latest years, exports to Italy stopped decreasing and
registered an encouraging growth by +12%.
Due to the economic slowdown and the ongoing Ukraine conflict, exports of Spanish
furniture to Russia fell sharply by -36% and the country slipped down from the 5th to the
11th rank. With the Russian economy going into deep freeze in 2015, a recovery of
furniture exports is not expected in the short term.
Among main destination markets, significant increases have been also registered in
exports to Mexico (+40.6%), Saudi Arabia (+6.4%) and Morocco (+9.5%), which ranks
now 8th and has almost reached the same purchases as the U.S.A. High rates of increase in
minor markets, such as Equatorial Guinea (+21.2%), Argelia (+83.5%) and the UAE
(+6.5%), show the effort that Spanish companies put in expanding in less saturated
markets and in diversifying their clients’ base.
ANIEME - Spanish National Association of Furniture Manufacturers and Exporters
4. ANIEME - Spanish National Association of Furniture Manufacturers and Exporters
Ranking of main destination markets for Spanish furniture exports
in million euros Source: ESTACOM
0
200
400
600
2013
2014
5. On the whole, it should be pointed out that Spanish furniture sales showed a stimulating
upward trend in 2014. Sales to most EU countries increased significantly, with the
exception of France (-4.8%) and the Netherlands (-8.4%). Good results have been
registered also in North America, with sales to the U.S.A. remaining almost stable (+2.0%)
and picketing up in Mexico (+40.6%). The strong presence of high-end Spanish brands in
these markets and the increasing collaborations with local specifiers and interior designers
have determined a greater participation of companies in major projects of the booming
residential, corporate and hospitality sectors.
Spain’s furniture is also highly appreciated in the MENA region, with exports doing
particularly well in Saudi Arabia, Algeria and the UAE.
As for Africa, Equatorial Guinea expanded its purchases of Spain’s furniture by + 21.2%,
ranking now 15th.
The increase of exports to traditional as well as to emerging markets shows how hard
Spain’s companies are working to compensate the stagnation of domestic sales. The ranks
of destination markets shows also an encouraging trend toward the diversification of
markets in Europe, America, Africa and Asia.
ANIEME - Spanish National Association of Furniture Manufacturers and Exporters
Main trends in Spain’s furniture exports
6. ANIEME - Spanish National Association of Furniture Manufacturers and Exporters
Imports
As far as the main furniture supplier countries are concerned,
China, whose furniture purchases from Spain amounted to 510,6
million euros (+24.3%), consolidates itself as the main origin
market, concentrating the 24.3% of Spain’s imports of furniture.
Five countries of the EU (Portugal, Germany, Italy, Poland and
France) rank 2nd to 6th just behind China, representing the 78.3%
of total imports.
As it can be observed, imports from China, which consolidates its
leading position as the main furniture supplier to Spain, have
recovered although they are still under the pre-crisis level. On the
whole, purchases from minor markets registered positive results,
although volumes remain much lower.
7. ANIEME - Spanish National Association of Furniture Manufacturers and Exporters
Main furniture trading partners: origin of furniture
imports
in million euros Source: ESTACOM
Countries Imports 2014
% of total
imports
% VAR.
14/13
China 510.9 22.7% 24.3%
Portugal 298.6 13.2% 14.0%
Germany 261.2 11.6% 7.0%
Italy 213.1 9.5% 14.1%
Poland 160.5 7.1% 25.9%
France 160.1 7.1% 17.3%
Morocco 70.4 3.1% 27.2%
Romania 69.8 3.1% 10.1%
Czech Republic 51.2 2.3% -26.5%
Slovakia 46.0 2.0% 12.3%
8. ANIEME - Spanish National Association of Furniture Manufacturers and Exporters
Export results by autonomous communities (regions)
Looking at results by Autonomous Communities (Regions), Catalonia
keeps on playing a leading role in the national furniture exports with a
share of 25.5% of the total export furniture market. The Valencia
Community, which is striving to diversify its destination markets, maintains
the second position with exports increasing by +3.1%. It is worth to point
out that both Communities represent 48.9% of the national furniture
exports, showing that sales to foreign markets are largely concentrated in
only two regions.
Among main export regions, Madrid (+26.5%) and Murcia (+32.4%) have
also registered significant increases.