China's Furniture Exports Pivot From the US to Europe as Tariffs Bite

China's furniture exports shift from the US to Europe

Chinese furniture exports are moving away from the United States and towards Europe as US tariffs and wider trade tensions erode the competitiveness of Chinese goods in the American market. According to analysis from Furnilytics reported by Interior Daily, the European Union has overtaken the United States as the largest destination for Chinese furniture shipments. Separately, the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), cited by Fordaq, reported that China's wooden furniture exports to the US fell 13% in the first quarter.

The shift comes as global furniture trade enters a transitional phase after the exceptional demand of the pandemic years. China's total furniture exports peaked at $74.9bn in 2021, before easing to $69.8bn in 2024 and $66.9bn in 2025 — a year-on-year decline of 4.3%. Furnilytics attributed the slowdown to weaker post-pandemic demand and growing structural pressures, compounded by US tariff policy and trade tensions.

Monthly flows reverse

Historically the US was China's largest export market, averaging around $1.6bn in monthly imports against roughly $1.0bn for Europe. The latest data shows exports to the US falling below $1bn per month, while exports to Europe moved towards $1.2bn per month. As a result, the EU has replaced the US as the top destination for Chinese furniture. The reversal reflects weaker US demand, continued tariffs and supply-chain diversification, with Europe increasingly absorbing redirected volumes.

On a full-year 2025 basis, US imports from China fell 30.8%, while EU imports rose 13.3%, according to Furnilytics.

European markets lead the gains

Several major European markets posted double-digit increases in 2025:

• Spain: +15.2%
• Germany: +14.0%
• Netherlands: +10.1%

Imports also rose in the United Kingdom (+9.0%), Italy (+8.3%) and France (+7.4%). The gains were broad but uneven, concentrated in the largest importing economies.

Demand versus sourcing

Furnilytics noted that many underlying furniture markets are not expanding significantly, suggesting the increases are driven more by sourcing shifts than by stronger consumer demand. In other words, Chinese goods are displacing volumes that would otherwise have come from other suppliers, rather than serving new consumption.

The company concluded that if current dynamics continue, European markets should expect sustained inflows of Chinese furniture, increasing competitive pressure across the retail and manufacturing value chain. For importers, the trend points to wider availability and keener pricing of Chinese product in the EU; for European manufacturers, it signals intensifying price competition in their home markets.