Malaysia turns to new markets, but problems in the furniture industry ‘have been exaggerated’

25th February | imports | Malaysian furniture exports grew last year and will again in 2009. That’s the view of Tan Chin Huat, who runs the Malaysian International Furniture Fair, which is due to start early next month in Kuala Lumpur.

The MIFF chairman and md launched a broadside at the media, saying the situation in the furniture is ‘not that bad,’ and predicted a continued rise in sales levels for Malaysian furniture suppliers. He expects exports to be worth 10bn in local currency by 2010, up from 8.5bn in 2007.

In the past decade Malaysia has been among a host of Far East countries to successfully penetrate the UK furniture retail market. However, he said that further growth may now come from other markets. He pinpointed Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and China as potential targets for Malaysian furniture manufacturers.

Other furniture exhibitions in March in the Far East include events in Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and China.

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