TOKYO: In contrast to the sharp fall in Japan’s imports of kitchen furniture in April, May saw an equally sharp increase bringing shipments up to around the average for the year to date, ITTO reports. Year-on-year May imports of wooden kitchen furniture rose 7.5% and month on month May 2016 imports were up 9.5% on levels in April. Vietnam shippers dominate Japan’s imports of wooden kitchen furniture followed by the Philippines. The surprise in May was that Indonesia replaced China as the third largest supplier.
May imports of wooden kitchen furniture from Vietnam were up 7% month on month with the Philippines posting a 26% rise in shipments and Indonesia seeing shipments rise 7%. Germany features as the top non-Asian supplier of wooden kitchen furniture and in May was joined for the first time by Slovenia.
