Austrian furniture manufacturers below expectations

In 2012, Austrian furniture manufacturers achieved a production increase of 4.4% to a value of € 1.94 billion. Production volume in the first six months this year, however, were below expectations – they fell by 0.5%. "After a weak first quarter, production picked up year on year in the second", says Dr. Georg Emprechtinger, chairman of the Austrian furniture industry association. "And given the current forecasts it is justified to hope we can catch up until year's end."
Demand for office furniture and parts thereof was particularly low in the first half year (–18.5% to € 107 million production value), so was demand for kitchen furniture (–4.5% to € 110.4 million).

Exports to Germany declined sharply

Exports fell by 7% in the first half year to a production value of € 409 million, compared to last year. A real problem turned out to be Austria's prime furniture market Germany where exports fell by 12.3% to a value of € 173 million. Shipments of Austrian seating and kitchen furniture to Germany suffered severe losses: 27.9% and 24.8%, respectively. Much more upbeat was business with Switzerland (+9.1 %) and Hungary (+55 %).
Austrian imports of furniture declined by 2.5 % to a value of € 841 million yoy. On the other hand, imports of kitchen furniture (+8 %) and office furniture (+7%) increased, as statistical data suggest.