TOKYO: Japan’s imports of office furniture rose in July marking the first increase in imports since January this year. However, despite the rise, July imports are well down on the avearge monthly imports in the first quarter of the year.
Both kitchen and bedroom furniture imports rose in July consolidating the monthly increase seen since the end of the first quarter.
July imports of office furniture jumped around 20% from a month earlier. The top three suppliers in July were China (47%), Portugal (17%) and Denmark (10%) which together accounted for three quarters of all July office furniture imports.
Office furniture imports from China were up 47% in July and imports from Portugal also rose (+26%). Imports of office furniture from Denmark over recent months have been small so the rapid jump in the value of July sales (by a factor of 10) suggests purchases of specialized items. Once again, three countries dominate Japan’s imports of kitchen furniture.
The top supplier in July, by a wide margin, was Vietnam (37% of all kitchen furniture HS 940340 imports) followed by the Philippines (23%) and China (17%). If imports from the 4th ranked supplier, Indonesia are included then over 90% of Japan‟s kitchen furniture imports are accounted for.
Overall, July imports were about the same as in June but supplies from Vietnam fell slightly as they did for Malaysia and Indonesia.
Japan’s wooden bedroom furniture imports (HS 940350) had shown signs of recovering in June but July figures were once again a disappointing reflection on consumer sentiment when it comes to big ticket purchases.
Until the housing market picks up significantly bedroom furniture import levels will depend largely on replacement demand. Both China and Vietnam saw July exports of wooden bedroom furniture to Japan decline. These two supply countries account for over 80% of Japan‟s imports of these products.
