Wooden furniture manufacturers fear material shortages
2018-06-08 20:00:41 / VIETNAMWOOD
A report from the General Department of Customs (GDC) showed that export turnover of all woodwork items in the first four months of the year increased significantly.
Vietnam exported $680 million worth of products in April and $2.6 billion in the first four months of 2018, an increase of 9 percent over the same period last year.
Wooden furniture manufacturers expect another prosperous year in 2018 as demand is predicted to continue to increase globally.
Most large manufacturers have enough orders to keep them busy until mid-year. Some of them even have orders for the entire year, especially from Europe and the US.
A director of a wooden furniture company confirmed there are more clients from the two markets this year as European and American importers have shifted orders to Vietnamese enterprises instead of Chinese firms.
In addition, exports to South Korea have been increasing rapidly as Vietnam’s products have become more and more favored here. Exports have also been facilitated by the bilateral FTA (free trade agreement) between Vietnam and South Korea.
According to Nguyen Ton Quyen, deputy chair of the Vietnam Timber and Forest Product Association (Vifores), the target of $9 billion turnover this year is within reach. However, to obtain such high export turnover, Vietnam would need a large amount of materials.
The agriculture ministry reported that by the end of April 2018, Vietnam had imported $698 million worth of timber materials, up by 2.5 percent compared with the same period last year.
It is estimated that for every $1 billion worth of increased export turnover, the material needed would be 3.5 million cubic meters. Meanwhile, domestic sources (planted forests) can only satisfy 10-15 percent of demand.
Every year, Vietnam collects 18-19 million cubic meters of timber, but only 2-3 million cubic meters can be used to make wooden furniture, while the rest are chips for artificial boards.
To solve the material shortage, Vifores has proposed the state restrict material exports, especially chips which can be used for other work. It has also suggested fully exploiting domestic materials such as rubber wood and fruit tree wood.
“To do this, the support by the State will be very important,” Quyen said. “The state should not make too deep intervention into businesses’ transport and examination over timber origin.”
According to Nguyen Quoc Tri, general director of the Forestry Department, in the long term, Vietnam needs to develop domestic material sources, which will allow to both reduce production costs and trace the origin of timber.
Source From: Vietnamnet
More News
- Seminar Session: Driving the Innovation in the Plastics, Printing & Packaging Industry Bangladesh Int'l PLASTICS, PRINTING & PACKAGING Industry Fair / 2026-01-22 20:45:09
- IPF Bangladesh 2026 Positions Bangladesh as a Rising Hub for Plastics, Printing and Packaging Manufacturing Bangladesh Int'l PLASTICS, PRINTING & PACKAGING Industry Fair / 2026-01-20 13:27:57
- Taiwanese bakery brands making their mark in Vietnam Taipei Int'l Bakery Show / 2026-01-16 15:05:38
- Hanoi International Electronics and Smart Manufacturing Exhibition to Bring Together Companies from 6 Countries, May 20–23, 2026 in Vietnam Hanoi International Electronics and Smart Manufacturing Exhibition / 2026-01-15 17:04:13
- Scoop the Prize! VIETNAMWOOD / 2025-11-03 10:52:16
- VietnamPlas 2025 Successfully Attracted 21,401 International Visitors Vietnam Plas (HCM) / 2025-10-28 10:18:04
- Leisure Japan is coming to Tokyo Big Sight on November 26-28! Taiwan Outdoor Show -OUT。DOOR TaiChung / 2025-10-27 09:02:46
- Leisure Japan is coming to Tokyo Big Sight on November 26-28! Taiwan Outdoor Show - OUT。DOOR Taipei / 2025-10-27 09:02:10
- VietnamPrintPack 2025 successfully concluded with a total of 20,052 professional visitors Vietnam HCM Pack Print Food / 2025-10-17 13:36:26
- Seminar Sessions: Expert Perspectives on Advancing the Printing & Packaging Markets Vietnam HCM Pack Print Food / 2025-09-30 14:54:32
- Beware of Fraud and Impersonation Myanmar Agro Food Exhibition / 2025-09-30 08:56:21
- Beware of Fraud and Impersonation Myanmar PPP / 2025-09-30 08:56:20
- CTG & CIMIF2025 Panel Discussion Agenda CIMIF / 2025-09-26 17:48:16
- Seminar Sessions: High-Level Perspectives on Global Trade and the Future of Sustainable Plastics Vietnam Plas (HCM) / 2025-09-18 15:47:43
- VPPNEXT : Innovation Zone (Booth 630 - 647) Vietnam HCM Pack Print Food / 2025-09-08 11:56:00
- VietnamPrintPack 2025: The Largest Exhibition Platform Showcase Printing & Packaging Industry Vietnam HCM Pack Print Food / 2025-09-05 11:53:19
- VietnamPlas 2025: Asia’s leading plastics and rubber industry exhibition will be showcased in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam Plas (HCM) / 2025-09-02 11:18:43
- Market Trends & Exhibition Highlights Industry Must Know Vietnam Plas (HCM) / 2025-08-18 17:33:24
- The Vietnam's no.1 Exhibition for Plastics and Rubber Vietnam Plas (HCM) / 2025-08-18 14:08:15
- What’s New in the Printing & Packaging Industry? Vietnam HCM Pack Print Food / 2025-08-07 11:40:56