British furniture is increasingly being purchased overseas, according to the latest trade report by British Furniture Manufacturers (BFM).
The survey, which took place throughout 2016, revealed that exports to the EU had risen by 19.8% and to non-EU countries by 8.4% in comparison to 2015, bringing the total value of exports to more than £2b.
Jackie Bazeley, BFM MD, says: "Our report has revealed a number of positive findings despite the Brexit vote and the period of uncertainty that followed. While all sectors saw an increase in values, upholstery experienced the main growth, with exports of upholstered seats rising by 82% to the EU, and overall by 54.4%."
The BFM report also found exports to non-EU countries now account for more trade than to EU countries. Chief among them is the US, which remains the largest market for UK furniture, worth £533m – 19% up on 2015.
It also showed that China is now the UK's second major non-EU export market, having overtaken UAE, Qatar, Switzerland and Australia, following a substantial growth, to reach a value of £83m.
Within the EU, the Republic of Ireland accounts for 30% of all UK exports and is the biggest market for British furniture, worth £277m. The French, it seems, are also turning more towards British furniture, with imports worth nearly £211m in 2016 – an increase of 50% on 2015, and in the process passing Germany as the UK's second main EU export destination.
The full BFM furniture trade report is available to members of the association and can be found via the members' area on the association's website.
