Abstract
In this study we analyze changes in United States imports of wood furniture over the 39-year period from 1972 to 2010. In 1972, Canada and the former Yugoslavia were the most important sources of imported wood furniture, and Europe accounted for nearly 60 percent of total imports. Shipments of low-cost wood furniture from Taiwan started to increase in the 1970s, and by 1978 Taiwan was the most important source of imported wood furnture. Overall, low-cost sources in Asia displaced Europe in 1987. Taiwan continued to be the most important source in 1994. Canada became the most important source of imported wood furniture from 1994 to 2000 as the Canadian dollar declined in value against the United States dollar. In 2001, China became the most important source of wood furniture imports. More recently furniture imports from an emergins source, Vietnam, have increased dramatically. One reason why Asian manufacturers have been so successful in the U.S. market has been that furniture consumers were influenced mainly by price. By contrast, success in some segments of the U.S.-based furniture industry indicates that models enabling consumers to make styling and pricing decisions also can be competitive.
Keywords
wood furniture,
imports,
United States,
Europe,
Taiwan,
Canada,
China,
Vietnam
Citation
Luppold, William G.; Bumgardner, Matthew S. 2011. Thirty-nine years of US wood furniture importing: sources and products. BioResources. 6(4): 4895-4908.
