Furniture makers urged to look at domestic mart

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. is encouraging furniture makers to look at the domestic market to increase their sales, given the development of real estate properties in the country and as markets for exports remain weak.

Philexport trustee for the furniture sector Myrna Bituin said in a statement, furniture makers must consider supplying for the domestic market as many hotels and condominiums are currently being developed in the country.

“The local market today is very, very bullish... Look at that, from Luzon, Visayas to Mindanao...many hotels are being built,” she said.

She said some furniture companies are already working closely with property and hotel developers to generate sales.

Most hotels and property developers currently import furniture from countries like China, Malaysia and Indonesia.

To be able to take advantage of the opportunity offered by the domestic market, Bituin said furniture makers need to be ahead in terms of adopting technology and coming up with designs.

“Those who have the capability to deliver, they have doubled the production this year for the local market. Some exporters who are now working with the developers, they are able to attain their growths,” she said.

She noted though that strong domestic demand will not be enough to cover for weak exports amid uncertainty in the global economy and challenges faced by furniture makers which includes the moratorium on logging in natural and residual forests imposed by the government under Executive Order 23.

Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines president Nicolaas De Lange said earlier this month the moratorium on logging imposed by the government has resulted in higher prices of plantation wood at P65 to P70 per board foot from P40.