http://www.worldfurnitureonline.com/Events/Furniture-Outlook-2014/Presentation.html World Furniture Outlook Seminar 2014 13th edition organized by CSIL, Centre for Industrial Studies. The workshop was held during the 53rd Milan International Furniture Fairs I SALONI on April 10, 2014 (h 11.00 - 13.00) at the Fiera Milano Rho Congress Centre, Meeting Room AQUARIUS. CSIL experts presented the recent research works conducted worldwide: World Furniture Outlook. Alessandra Tracogna (CSIL Director, Industry Studies and Market Research) introduced forecasts concerning the furniture sector worldwide and commented on the fundamentals regarding furniture production, consumption and world trade. Smart&Fast cities: forecasting furniture demand to 2020. Jessica Catalano (CSIL expert, Development and Evaluation Studies) illustrated the main results of a new study focusing on 150 cities showing good business opportunities and promising furniture demand in the global market up to 2020. CSIL findings were discussed with a selected group of corporate and institutional representatives as keynote speakers, (see the Workshoop Agenda), presenting the status and prospects of the furniture industries in their countries and focusing on strategies operated in the global market.

1. PRESS RELEASE
WORLD
FURNITURE OUTLOOK 2014/2015
W0a-2014
SUMMARY presented at CSIL Seminar
Authors
Alessandra Tracogna,
Stefania Pelizzari,
Ugo Finzi (Senior Advisor)
Editorial closing date
April 2014
All queries
tracogna@csilmilano.com
FURNITURE
UPHOLSTERY
& MATTRESSES
CONTRACT
& LUXURY
OFFICE &
WORKSPACE
KITCHEN &
BATHROOM
ECOBUILDING
& WINDOWS
DESIGN LAB &
WORKSHOPS
MAJOR
APPLIANCES
LIGHTING
FIXTURES
CSIL Milano scrl
15 corso Monforte 20122 Milano Italy
tel. +39 02 796630 fax +39 02 780703
csil@csilmilano.com – www.csilmilano.com

2. CSIL Milano scrl
15 corso Monforte 20122 Milano Italy
Tel. +39 02 796630 fax +39 02 780703
csil@csilmilano.com – www.csilmilano.com
Codice Fiscale e Partita IVA 04825320155
REA Milano 1042964
WORLD FURNITURE OUTLOOK
SUMMARY1
The world furniture market
World furniture consumption (at production prices) is worth almost US$ 440 billion2. This estimate is based on
CSIL processing of data from official sources, both national and international, that cover the 70 most important
countries.
Figure 1 World furniture consumption, 2004 - 2013.
Current US$ billion
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013*
Source: CSIL processing of United Nations, Eurostat and national data *preliminary estimate
Apparent consumption at production prices, excluding retail markup
As shown in Figure 1, total world furniture consumption (i.e. the aggregate of 70 countries) grew from US$ 273
billion in 2004 to a peak of US$ 386 billion in 2008 before decreasing as a consequence of the recession in 2009.
Growth resumed in 2010. Consumption rose above the pre-recession level in 2011 and reached the value of US$
419 billion in 2012. According to preliminary estimates growth continued in 2013.
The imports penetration for furniture (measured as the ratio between imports and consumption), for the entire
world is in the range of 27%.
1 Updated as of April 2014
2 All data are in current US$

3. CSIL Milano scrl
15 corso Monforte 20122 Milano Italy
Tel. +39 02 796630 fax +39 02 780703
csil@csilmilano.com – www.csilmilano.com
Codice Fiscale e Partita IVA 04825320155
REA Milano 1042964
World furniture trade basically involves 70 countries. The leading importers are the United States, Germany,
France and the United Kingdom.
Figure 2 Major furniture importing countries. Imports, 2004 - 2013.
Current US$ billion
0
4
8
12
16
20
24
28
32
United States Germany France United Kingdom
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Source: CSIL processing of United Nations, Eurostat and national data
The recession in the USA caused a major decrease in furniture imports (from US$ 26 billion in 2007 to about
US$19 billion in 2009). Growth of imports resumed in subsequent years registering an average annual growth
rate of 5% for the period 2010-2013.
The major exporters are China, Italy, Germany, and Poland.

4. CSIL Milano scrl
15 corso Monforte 20122 Milano Italy
Tel. +39 02 796630 fax +39 02 780703
csil@csilmilano.com – www.csilmilano.com
Codice Fiscale e Partita IVA 04825320155
REA Milano 1042964
Figure 3 Major furniture exporting countries. Exports, 2004 - 2013.
Current US$ billion
0
4
8
12
16
20
24
28
32
36
40
44
48
52
56
China Italy Germany Poland
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Source: CSIL processing of United Nations, Eurostat and national data
The world economy and world furniture trade in 2014 and 2015
The World Furniture Outlook assumes that the international scenario in 2014 and 2015 will be as follows:
Table 1 Evolution of world GDP.
Annual percentage change in real terms
2014 2015
World 3.7% 3.9%
Advanced economies 2.2% 2.3%
Emerging and Developing Economies 5.1% 5.4%
Source: IMF, January 2014
World trade of furniture amounted to US$ 95 billion in 2009 (19% below the previous year) and grew to US$ 106
billion in 2010 and, according to preliminary estimates, to US$ 126 billion in 2013.
If the world scenario shown in Table 1 materializes, world trade of furniture would be likely to grow in current US$
to US$ 133 billion in 2014.

5. CSIL Milano scrl
15 corso Monforte 20122 Milano Italy
Tel. +39 02 796630 fax +39 02 780703
csil@csilmilano.com – www.csilmilano.com
Codice Fiscale e Partita IVA 04825320155
REA Milano 1042964
Figure 4 World trade of furniture.
Current US$ billion and annual percentage changes
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
-25%
-20%
-15%
-10%
-5%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Source: CSIL 2014: Forecast
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