China Furniture Export Data · Home Decoration
China's home furnishing export data refers to a comprehensive data system centered on statistics from the General Administration of Customs (GACC), supplemented by the China National Furniture Association, the Customs Information Center, provincial and municipal departments of commerce, and third-party data institutions (such as export volume and price data under customs HS code dimensions), reflecting the cross-border transaction scale, structure, flow direction, and price trends of Chinese furniture, home furnishings, custom home furnishing components, and supporting products.
The core statistical scope is based on HS codes, primarily involving:
For Chinese custom home furnishing enterprises, the strategic value of this data has risen sharply since 2023. There are three reasons:
First, domestic new housing completion area continues to face pressure. According to National Bureau of Statistics data, in 2023 national housing completion area grew 17.0% year-on-year, but the growth rate fell sharply in 2024, and in the first half of 2025 the sales area of newly built commercial housing remained in a downward range year-on-year. The domestic bulk business (fine decoration engineering) of custom home furnishing enterprises has exposed risks, and leading enterprises such as Oppein, Suofeiya, and Zebon all mentioned proactive contraction of bulk business in their annual reports.
Second, overseas markets have become a second growth curve. GACC data shows that in 2024 China's furniture and parts exports amounted to approximately USD 67.8 billion, up about 5.8% year-on-year, with export growth to countries along the "Belt and Road" exceeding the overall rate. In the first half of 2025, furniture exports continued to show resilience, with notable growth in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Latin American markets.
Third, custom home furnishing going global has shifted from "finished product export" to "brand + service going global". Oppein accelerated its layout in Southeast Asia and the Australian market in 2024, Suofeiya entered Vietnam and Indonesia through acquisitions and joint ventures, and Zebon advanced a dual-engine drive of engineering and retail in Australia and North America. These actions all require precise export data to support site selection, product selection, pricing, and channel strategies.
Scope of application: This interpretation applies to marketing directors, foreign trade managers, and overseas sales heads of custom home furnishing enterprises, for use in overseas market prioritization, product line adaptation, pricing strategy, exhibition site selection, and channel negotiations.
According to public data from GACC and the China National Furniture Association:
| Indicator | 2023 | 2024 | First Half of 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Furniture and parts export value | Approx. USD 64.1 billion | Approx. USD 67.8 billion | Approx. USD 34 billion |
| Year-on-year growth rate | -5.2% | +5.8% | Around +3% |
| Top 5 export destinations | United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, Australia | United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, South Korea | United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Saudi Arabia |
Key changes:
| Market | Core Demand | Key Certifications/Standards | Tariffs and Trade Barriers |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Finished furniture, custom cabinets, wardrobes | CARB P2, TSCA Title VI, UL | Section 301 tariffs (25% on some categories) |
| European Union | Eco-friendly furniture, panel-based custom products | CE, E1/E0, FSC | Anti-dumping duties (some wooden furniture) |
| Australia | Custom wardrobes, cabinets, outdoor furniture | AS/NZS standards, E0 | No particularly high tariffs, but strict quarantine |
| Middle East (Saudi Arabia/UAE) | Engineering fine decoration, hotel furniture | SASO, GCC certification | Relatively low tariffs (5%-7%) |
| Southeast Asia | Mid-range custom products, finished furniture | SIRIM (Malaysia), SNI (Indonesia) | Low tariffs under the ASEAN Free Trade Area |
Key standard numbers to note:
| Trade Mode | Share (Estimated) | Characteristics | Suitable Enterprises |
|---|---|---|---|
| General trade | About 75% | Large-value, stable, tax refundable | Medium and large enterprises with foreign trade teams |
| Cross-border e-commerce (B2C/B2B) | About 15% | Small orders, quick response, direct to consumers | Enterprises with online operation capabilities |
| Overseas warehouse + local delivery | About 10% | Shortens delivery time, improves experience | Enterprises already布局 overseas |
The particularity of custom home furnishing: Custom products are highly non-standard, making pure cross-border e-commerce difficult. The mainstream model is "engineering orders + dealer showrooms". Oppein in Australia and Suofeiya in Vietnam both adopt the model of "headquarters exporting products + local dealers installing."
| Channel | Content | Update Frequency | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| GACC official website | Import and export data by HS code dimension | Monthly | Free |
| Customs Information Center | Segmented category and country data | Monthly/Annual | Partially paid |
| China National Furniture Association | Industry reports, export prosperity index | Quarterly/Annual | Membership-based |
| UN Comtrade | Global trade data | Annual | Free |
| Third parties (e.g., customs data companies) | Buyer directories, transaction records | Real-time | Paid |
| Dimension | China's Domestic Market | China's Home Furnishing Exports | Local Production in Southeast Asia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market size | Large, but growth slowing | Large, growth diverging | Medium, growing fast |
| Customization demand | High, fine decoration + retail | Medium-high, engineering + retail | Medium, mainly finished products |
| Tariff cost | None | Depends on destination, relatively high for the United States | Low within ASEAN, advantageous for the United States |
| Logistics cycle | 1-2 weeks | 4-8 weeks (sea freight) | 1-3 weeks |
| Brand premium | Strong domestic brands | Weak Chinese brands, needs cultivation | Mainly local brands |
| Suitable model | Dealers + bulk | Engineering + dealers + overseas warehouses | Joint venture/wholly owned factory construction |
Case 1: Oppein Home's Expansion in the Australian Market
Oppein accelerated its Australian layout in 2023-2024, entering fine decoration apartment projects in Sydney and Melbourne through local dealer networks. Public reports show that Oppein's Australian business focuses mainly on custom cabinets and wardrobes, leveraging China's supply chain cost advantage plus local installation services, positioned in the mid-to-high end. Export data helped it judge the import growth rate and competitive landscape of Australia's HS 9403 category.
Case 2: Suofeiya's Vietnam Joint Venture Factory
Suofeiya established a production base in Vietnam through cooperation partners to circumvent some U.S. tariffs while radiating into the Southeast Asian market. Public information shows that the factory mainly produces panel-based custom products, supplying Vietnam's local fine decoration market and exporting to the United States. The chain changes in export data—"Vietnam imports panels from China, Vietnam exports furniture to the United States"—were an important reference for Suofeiya's decision-making.
Case 3: Zebon Home's North American Engineering Orders
Zebon entered North America through engineering channels, providing custom cabinets to apartment developers. Its foreign trade team screened U.S. importer directories through customs data, targeting buyers with stable annual import volumes, and conducted targeted development combined with exhibitions such as KBIS. Public reports mention that Zebon adopted a "engineering first, retail later" strategy in the North American market.
Q1: For custom home furnishing exports, which HS code category should be used?
A: If custom cabinets and wardrobes are exported in the form of "wooden furniture," they are usually classified under HS 9403.60 (other wooden furniture); if exported in the form of "builders' joinery and carpentry of wood" (such as unassembled panels or door frames), they may be classified under HS 4418. It is recommended to confirm with the customs broker to avoid tax refund or tariff issues caused by misclassification.
Q2: Are U.S. CARB and TSCA certifications mandatory for custom home furnishing enterprises?
A: Yes. All wood-based panels and their products entering the U.S. market must comply with CARB ATCM 93120 and TSCA Title VI. Leading enterprises such as Oppein and Suofeiya have all obtained certification. Uncertified products may be detained or returned by customs.
Q3: Export data shows decent growth for "furniture," so why hasn't my company felt it?
A: Export data is an aggregate, and structural divergence is obvious. Finished furniture, outdoor furniture, and office furniture have grown relatively well; traditional panel-based custom products may be affected by tariffs and weak demand if they only serve the U.S. market. It is recommended to examine the data segmented by HS code and destination country.
Q4: Middle East market export data is growing fast—are there opportunities for custom home furnishing?
A: Yes. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have strong demand for fine decoration apartments and hotel projects, and tariffs are low (5%-7%), but attention must be paid to SASO certification and local agent requirements. It is recommended to enter first through engineering channels and then consider retail.
Q5: Can cross-border e-commerce do custom home furnishing?
A: Pure B2C is difficult because custom products are non-standard, have long delivery times, and involve complex installation. However, B2B small-order customization (such as sample orders and designer collaboration orders) can be attempted, or the overseas warehouse + local installation model can be used. Oppein's dealer model in Australia is worth referencing.
1. Establish a monthly monitoring table by HS code dimension: Lock onto HS 9403, 9401, and 4418, break them down by destination country, trade mode, and unit price range, and update monthly. Data sources should primarily be GACC, supplemented by UN Comtrade.
2. Prioritize markets that are "tariff-friendly + demand-growing": The Middle East (Saudi Arabia, UAE), Australia, and Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Indonesia) are currently the priorities for custom home furnishing going global. Maintain the U.S. market but prepare tariff contingency plans.
3. Certification first, don't wait for orders: Certification cycles for CARB, TSCA, CE, SASO, etc. usually take 2-4 months, so it is advisable to plan ahead. The experience of Oppein and Suofeiya is that "certification follows market planning."
4. Use export data to screen overseas dealers: Obtain destination-country importer directories through customs data companies, screen buyers with stable annual import volumes and matching categories, and conduct targeted development.
5. Dual-engine drive of engineering channels + retail showrooms: In the early stage of going global, custom home furnishing should focus mainly on engineering orders (apartments, hotels), and after stabilizing, open dealer showrooms to enhance brand premium. Zebon's North American strategy can be referenced.
6. Pay attention to transshipment trade data: Vietnam and Mexico's furniture exports to the United States are growing fast, backed by the transfer of Chinese production capacity. If enterprises have plans to build factories overseas, they can study the export data of these nodes.
7. Participate in core exhibitions in target markets: KBIS in the United States, imm Cologne in Germany, DesignBUILD in Australia, and Big 5 in the Middle East are important channels for obtaining orders and understanding competitors.
8. Build a sensitivity model for exchange rates and freight: Export profits are greatly affected by sea freight and exchange rates. It is recommended to calculate gross margins under different freight and exchange rate scenarios on a quarterly basis to guide pricing strategies.