EsU.S. retail sales of furniture climbed 1.4% on a year earlier in September, official data shows, the seventh straight month of expansion, but the slowest rate of growth since April. Imported furniture continued to build its market share, with a 4.8% rise in August, Panjiva data shows, and a likely 13.4% jump in September based on seaborne data only. That acceleration suggests either inventory build is significant, or that American manufacturers are losing pace.
Source: Panjiva
China accounted for 48.8% of supplies in the 12 months through August 31, with growth having outpaced broader import growth every month since March. The sector could become a target for tariffs once the U.S. Commerce Department completes its section 301 review of intellectual property practices. As outlined in Panjiva research of October 3 that review will give the President Trump the flexibility to apply tariffs broadly.
A further 27.0% of imports come from Mexico and Canada, while the U.S. ran a “furniture deficit” ( exports less imports) of $8.3 billion in the 12 months to August 31. That raises the prospect that the ongoing – and struggling – NAFTA negotiations may disrupt retailers supply chains.
Source: Panjiva
The two largest importers, at least by volume, are Ikea and Rooms-to-Go. Both have markedly accelerated their imports during the third quarter. Ikea’s imports climbed 21.7% on a year earlier, and Rooms-to-Go’s by 25.7% including a record month in September.
China accounts for 23.0% of Ikea’s imports, while Rooms-to-Go is more exposed at 31.9%. Ikea’s supply chain meanwhile is more heavily weighted to Europe and Rooms to Go’s towards Asia and particularly Vietnam (35.0% of the total).
Source: Panjiva
