Japan's imports of bedroom furniture continued to fall in September and imports of kitchen and office furniture followed suit. The weakening of furniture imports reinforces the view that consumer sentiment is negative and that the economy is yet to recover from the consumption tax increase in April.
Office furniture imports (HS 9403.30)
Office furniture imports were 18% down in September compared to August levels and apart for the slight rise in August, imports have been falling since May this year.
The number one supplier of office furniture to Japan in September was China (54%) followed by Italy (12%) and Poland (6%). These three suppliers accounted for around 72% of all September office furniture imports.
China is the main supplier but saw its market share drop by around 11%. The other main suppliers, Italy and Poland also saw a decline in imports by Japan.
September 2014 office furniture imports (HS 9403.30)
Imports September 2014 Unit 1,000 Yen |
|
S. Korea | 270 |
China | 127133 |
Taiwan P.o.C. | 8802 |
Hong-Kong | - |
Vietnam | - |
Thailand | - |
Singapore | - |
Malaysia | 5476 |
Philippines | - |
Indonesia | 12494 |
Sweden | - |
Denmark | 5263 |
UK | 1037 |
Netherlands | 303 |
Belgium | - |
France | 6288 |
Germany | 6231 |
Switzerland | - |
Portugal | 11265 |
Italy | 28215 |
Poland | 15704 |
Lithuania | 3610 |
Slovakia | 3350 |
Czech Republic | 1556 |
Slovakia | 1703 |
Canada | - |
USA | 626 |
Mexico | - |
Australia | - |
Total | 235976 |
Source: Ministry of Finance, Japan
Kitchen furniture imports (HS 9403.40)
Overall, kitchen furniture imports by Japan fell by 3% in September but the main supplier, Vietnam, saw trade rise by around 6%. The other winner in September was Indonesia which saw exports to Japan rise by almost 25%.
Other SE Asian suppliers of kitchen furniture to Japan, such as Thailand and Malaysia, saw imports fall in September.
September 2014 kitchen furniture imports
Imports Unit 1,000 Yen |
|
S. Korea | - |
China | 159821 |
Taiwan P.o.C. | - |
Vietnam | 529776 |
Thailand | 21245 |
Malaysia | 2358 |
Philippines | 193512 |
Indonesia | 123683 |
India | - |
Sweden | - |
Denmark | - |
UK | 1123 |
France | 1298 |
Germany | 24595 |
Portugal | - |
Italy | 9738 |
Poland | - |
Austria | 2510 |
Romania | 538 |
Turkey | 922 |
Lithuania | 268 |
Canada | 2182 |
USA | 3974 |
Total | 1077723 |
Source: Ministry of Finance, Japan
Bedroom furniture imports (HS 9403.50)
Japan's September imports of bedroom furniture fell 6.6% compared to August with China seeing its share of bedroom furniture imports slide almost 13% .
The top three suppliers China, Vietnam and Thailand accounted for the bulk (88%) of the bedroom furniture imports but both China and Thailand saw their share of imports fall.
In contrast, Japan's September imports of bedroom furniture from Vietnam rose 12%. Suppliers in the EU and US account for just a small part of Japan's bedroom furniture import and the value of these countries monthly exports of bedroom furniture remains fairly consistent.
September 2014 bedroom furniture imports
Imports 2014 September Unit 1,000 Yen |
|
S. Korea | - |
China | 819831 |
Taiwan P.o.C. | 25756 |
Vietnam | 472430 |
Thailand | 75992 |
Singapore | - |
Malaysia | 60312 |
Philippines | 1952 |
Indonesia | 31325 |
Kazakhstan | - |
Sweden | - |
Denmark | 3863 |
Sweden | 13086 |
UK | 740 |
France | - |
Germany | 209 |
Switzerland | - |
Spain | 417 |
Italy | 19360 |
Poland | 19612 |
Austria | 294 |
Romania | 5711 |
Turkey | - |
Latvia | - |
Lithuania | 1308 |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | 307 |
Croatia | 215 |
Slovakia | 6243 |
USA | 12148 |
Brazil | - |
Australia | - |
Total | 1558024 |
Source: Ministry of Finance, Japan