China’s wood furniture manufacturing industry: industrial cluster and export competitiveness

China is the largest furniture exporter in the world. Its wood furniture industry has become an important part of the country’s forestry economic development. Hence, investigating China’s furniture industry cluster and export competitiveness is favorable for the sustainable development of China’s forestry industry. This study indicates that, under the guidance of the export-oriented strategy of China’s reform and opening up for 30 years, the country’s furniture industry has formed three big industry areas, namely, the Eastern Pearl River Delta, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Bohai Rim Region. As the strategy shifts from export orientation to a focus on domestic demand, the Midwest area will take over China’s industrial transfer. At present, China’s furniture products have an important position in the world market. In 2010, furniture exports accounted for 27% of the world’s total exports, with wood furniture accounting for $10.6 billion worth of exports, or 58% of China’s total exports of furniture. Among the main export markets, the United States accounted for 39% of China’s total exports. In terms of international furniture trade, an important mutual influence exists between China and the United States. China’s office furniture and kitchen furniture have price advantages, whereas the bedroom furniture lacks price advantages. The production and export of mahogany furniture face the pressure of raw material shortage because of the protection of tropical forest resources. Hence, this challenge puts China’s furniture industry in future competition from emerging countries such as Malaysia.