Russian furniture makers described problems
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According to the Association of Furniture and Woodworking Industries (AMDPR), the volume of furniture production in the country for 6 months of 2023 increased by 8.6% compared to the same period in 2022 and amounted to 26.8 million pieces. Which types of products have fallen in price, and which, on the contrary, have risen in price – MK found out.
The volume of furniture production in monetary terms in Russia for the two quarters of 2023 amounted to 179.5 billion rubles, which is 4.7% higher than last year’s half-year results. The metal office furniture segment showed the highest growth (+26%, or RUB 22.3 billion), followed by plastic furniture (+18%, RUB 1.4 billion). On the third — wooden furniture for offices (+3%, 14.1 billion rubles).
In real terms, the largest increase was in the production of kitchen furniture (+51%), metal beds (+44%), hallway furniture (+26%). Production of wooden furniture for offices and folding upholstered furniture showed a 13% growth. At the same time, the production of country furniture, on the contrary, decreased by 65%, wooden furniture for the dining room and living room – by 36%.
“If in 2022 the furniture industry had an increase only in value terms, now production volumes are also growing,” said Alexander Shestakov, General Director of the First Furniture Factory. “This year, only wooden kitchen cabinets and living room furniture have risen in price so far,” said Timur Irtuganov, general director of AMDPR. – Almost all other groups of furniture before the beginning of autumn showed a decrease in prices or no growth. We hope that this situation will not change much in September.”
At the same time, analysts believe that the summer trend to lower prices will not last long. It is no secret that domestic producers are highly dependent on imports. Due to the collapse of the ruble in August, the price of varnishes, paints, chemical components, accessories, without which it is impossible to produce high-quality products, increased in price.
With the start of the new business season, a price reversal in the lumber segment is also possible, which will affect the retail price of furniture along the chain. Recall that over the past 14 months, chipboard manufacturers have been steadily reducing prices, and now they are 14.3 thousand rubles. per cube m. The cost of fiberboard boards is currently at the level of mid-2021 – 145 rubles. per sq. m. Plywood prices gradually began to grow (27.8 thousand rubles per cubic meter), but they are still far from the values of June 2022 (43.6 thousand rubles per cubic meter).
“The rise in price of lumber can occur for the same reasons as for any other goods: inflation, rise in the cost of logistics and imported components. In addition, most Russian lumber manufacturers have imported equipment. But at the moment there are no real prerequisites for a rise in the price of lumber, as well as reasons for worries, ”Timur Irtuganov noted to MK.
According to him, in the woodworking industry, the most difficult situation is with “plywood workers”, and the authorities’ assistance to them is still insufficient. The government’s recent decision to ban imports of plywood from unfriendly countries is symbolic, as their imports accounted for approximately 0.2% of all sales. “We are waiting for the next logical step – to increase duties on imported furniture from unfriendly countries,” Irtuganov said. In addition, in his opinion, a bill prepared by the Ministry of Construction on furnishing mortgage apartments in new buildings, which the State Duma deputies will discuss in the autumn session, will be of great help to domestic producers.
There are other initiatives as well. “Companies from China and Turkey are coming to replace the Western furniture makers who left the Russian Federation. But we compete with them in unequal conditions,” says Alexander Shestakov. – For example, domestic manufacturers, when supplying furniture to the Turkish market, must pay a duty of 30% to 60%, and our duty for foreign, incl. Turkish companies is only 9-12%. Russian furniture cannot enter the EU market under any circumstances. At the same time, German furniture makers can easily supply furniture to the Russian market. We should pay attention to this situation – and if not ban imports, then at least raise duties, as all other countries have already done.
According to MK, now the proposal is under consideration by the government commission on tariff and non-tariff regulation.
Another interesting trend is gaining momentum in the Russian furniture market: exports to China have grown this year. “Until recently, competition between Russian and Chinese furniture was only in our market. But the situation is changing, the cost of furniture production in the Celestial Empire has increased, Russian furniture is in quite acceptable positions, and we can compete with them,” Irtuganov explained.
It is gratifying that, despite the sanctions of the West, there are more and more people wishing to engage in the production of kitchens, doors and chairs in the Russian Federation. So, recently in Khimki near Moscow, with the support of regional authorities, they expanded the production of furniture. And at the end of summer, one of the national marketplaces launched the sale of furniture under its own brand in the middle price segment. We add that the project is being implemented by former managers of the Russian office of IKEA. Sofas and beds are now sold on the electronic platform; by the end of 2023, the range will be replenished with furniture for the living room, kitchen and bedroom.
Newspaper headline:
The furniture makers rolled up their sleeves
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