| The unique manufacturing of Asian furniture has | | | | incredible surge for its manufactured goods from |
| always brought a lot to the market, and in fact, the | | | | some of the world's largest markets namely the United |
| seven countries in South East Asia: Philippines, | | | | States, and this fad is only presumed to continue for |
| Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Korea and | | | | many years to come. Breaking down this trend by |
| Taiwan, combined have a furniture production of about | | | | nation, "China and the Association of South East |
| $12,137 USD. In particular Korea and Taiwan are the | | | | Nations, "ASEAN", (of which Indonesia, Malaysia, the |
| largest and most successful furniture markets and | | | | Philippines are major members) were responsible for |
| although Asian furniture is incredibly popular in the East | | | | most gains, while demand held steady for imports from |
| it is also widely developed in the Western world as | | | | Korea and Japan, and Taiwan actually experiencing a |
| well. The market for Asian furniture has really been on | | | | decline in demand for its Asian furniture exports. It is |
| the rise since the late 1990s, when "Furniture production | | | | here that we can clearly begin to see the reasons for |
| fuelled by export demands reached an estimated USD | | | | this disparity" (Furniture-Asian, 2000). There are |
| $1,828 million in 2000. Leading overseas importers are | | | | problems with this assumption of a gain in popularity in |
| the United States, Germany, France, the United | | | | the future however, namely that there would be risks |
| Kingdom, Japan and Canada" (Furniture-Asian, 2000). | | | | to Chinese and ASEAN dominance as the demand for |
| Malaysia is especially popular in terms of Asian | | | | Asian furniture will increase around the world and |
| furniture manufacturing, and many of the other high in | | | | therefore cause the actual production of Asian |
| demand areas around the world turn to them for their | | | | furniture manufacturing to rise in the United States as |
| stocks of this furniture because of its multitude, quality | | | | well. This would cause worry that the markets in the |
| and affordable price. | | | | East would no longer be so essential, and because of |
| Any detailed analysis of the Asian market would | | | | the United States' dominance in the world in terms of |
| reveal the fact that "the growth is skewed towards | | | | economy, China and area would most certainly have |
| China and Vietnam and the rest of the Asian furniture | | | | reason to worry. There is not, however, anything that |
| 'giants' such as Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia are | | | | would necessary indicate that this would pose any |
| witnessing moderate growth. China compensates for | | | | long term challenges to the Asian manufacturers, for |
| the moderate growth in these countries and boots the | | | | one because "as the data would indicate that even in |
| overall growth of the Asian market" (Frost & Sullivan, | | | | this climate Asian manufacturers have experienced a |
| 2007). There has always been a sort of internal rivalry | | | | steady increase in demand for their goods. In the |
| held amongst the Asian furniture manufacturers, of | | | | example of the textile industry for instance, even after |
| which has led to some seriously intense competition | | | | thirty years of special protections in the US textile |
| within these countries. Overall out of this Vietnam has | | | | industry has yet to pose a challenge to Chinese |
| worked to successfully gain customers from other | | | | manufacturers even with the exclusive status it enjoys |
| South East Asian countries, and as well Malaysia's | | | | with CITA and the Commerce Department" |
| wood furniture industry in particular has come into | | | | (Furniture-Asian, 2000). |
| rather sudden focus. | | | | Overall then as a result of this, although only time will |
| There are many reasons and points of interests which | | | | tell as to what will take place years from now, we can |
| are involved with the high market demand for Asian | | | | only assume that the manufacturing of Asian furniture |
| furniture, namely in regards to market drivers and | | | | in the United States will become more dominant, and |
| challenges. After all, the furniture industry in Malaysia is | | | | although Asian manufacturers may actually tend to |
| still outperforming the economy and growth in furniture | | | | see a dip in their market, it will most certainly not be |
| exports in general is expected to only drive the market | | | | lost and they truly do not have to worry in this case. |
| further in the future. "Although the USA accounted for | | | | The ideal agreement would be that the two locales |
| almost 34 percent of the furniture imports from | | | | would work together in the market of Asian furniture |
| Malaysia in 2005, there are other countries such as | | | | but either way it is unreasonable to believe that any |
| Australia and Netherlands that have gained | | | | other industry would fare any better than the actual, |
| considerable share in the recent years. Reliance on | | | | original Asian manufacturers. More and more |
| one single export destination made the Malaysian | | | | companies are getting into the Asian furniture |
| furniture industry vulnerable to external economic | | | | manufacturing business and wisely, because there |
| fluctuations, as evident from the 2001 setback when | | | | does not seem to be any concern that the Asian |
| exports from Malaysia plummeted. The diversification | | | | furniture market, anywhere in the world, is going to |
| of the export base will definitely reduce the impact of | | | | drop anytime soon. The beauty, quality and value of |
| external economic factors and ensure stable demand | | | | this furniture is what keeps it in such high demand in |
| for wood coatings" (Frost & Sullivan, 2007). | | | | the market all around the world, and any decline in this |
| In terms of what the future of Asian furniture exports | | | | market would certainly come as quite a surprise. |
| is expected to be like, Asia overall has experienced an | | | | |