Vietnamese furniture wood is in high demand in the US.

The US, a key market for Vietnamese furniture wood, saw a significant increase in purchases in the first quarter, but future demand may be unpredictable.

Due to disruptions caused by Covid, David, a buyer from the US, had the opportunity to return to Ho Chi Minh City after 4 years to attend Hawa Expo - Vietnam's largest furniture trade fair organized by 6 associations in early March.

"I was really surprised by the positive change. Businesses are investing heavily in new products," David said. While not sharing specific contract details, the buyer deemed the business trip "valuable and effective."

The US, which consumes more than half of Vietnam's timber and wood products, is gradually returning to the market, raising prospects for the industry's recovery this year. Statistics from Hawa Expo show that 36% of attendees at this year's fair came from the world's leading economy .

According to the General Department of Customs, in the first quarter of the year, exports of wood and wood products reached over 3.5 billion USD, an increase of more than 25% compared to the same period last year, of which the US market accounted for nearly 1.9 billion USD.

A furniture display booth at a trade fair in Ho Chi Minh City in March. Photo: Hawa Expo

Business started the year well, but the market's future prospects remain difficult to predict .

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), consumption of home and interior-related product categories slowed in March. Specifically, sales of building materials and garden equipment increased 0.7%, but furniture sales decreased 0.3%.

In addition, the Trade Remedies Department ( Ministry of Industry and Trade ) recently announced that it has received information about the DOC extending its investigation into circumvention of anti-dumping duties on wooden cabinets imported from Vietnam.

According to the Department, regulations regarding the origin of raw timber in the US are becoming increasingly stringent. The DOC is revising and supplementing 22 provisions related to certain regulations in anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations.

This year, the furniture industry aims for exports of $17.5 billion, meaning an average of nearly $4.4 billion needs to be sold abroad each quarter. While the first three months saw high growth, the pressure to secure orders for the remaining quarters remains significant.

Besides continuing to monitor the retail sector and complying with the White House's import policies, experts believe there is still other room for growth. Mr. Hoang Thang Long, representative of Divani Designs (USA), pointed out that the interior design sector for tourism projects and apartment buildings is less dependent on economic uncertainties.

In 2026, the US will host the World Cup, requiring accommodation establishments to prepare for guests, so the demand for interior furnishings is sure to increase.

A turnkey hotel room construction solution from a Vietnamese company. Photo: Abella

Meanwhile, Giovana Castellina, Director of Multi-Client Research at CSIL, a furniture and industry market research and consulting firm in Milan, Italy, recommends that businesses expand their trading networks beyond the US and seek new product segments.

In fact, at the recent Hawa Expo, 75% of exhibitors signed contracts or memoranda of cooperation, with a total value exceeding $115 million. Besides American visitors, buyers from India, the EU, Japan, and South Korea also flocked to see the 500 businesses, with 80% being Vietnamese suppliers showcasing their capabilities.

Within this group, Japan maintained stable purchasing power, exceeding $400 million in the first quarter. Exports to India were smaller, but more than doubled, reaching over $31.2 million.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Phong, Brand Director of Abella, stated that their target markets are India, Cambodia, Mozambique, etc. According to him, these are regions that lack the necessary conditions for raw material production and have limited construction expertise, thus requiring a complete interior design and construction solution.

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