Malaysian furniture firms garner RM14 mln sales at UK fair

KUALA LUMPUR: Sixteen Malaysian furniture manufacturers clinched almost RM14 million in confirmed and potential sales at UK’s largest furniture and furnishing event.

In a statement, the Malaysian Timber Council (MTC) said the recent January Furniture Show (JFS) 2016, the largest furniture and furnishings event in the UK, was a huge success for Malaysian furniture companies.

“Several Malaysian exhibitors generated RM2.5 million in immediate sales at the fair while the rest recorded RM11.5 million in potential sales.

“Nine of the 16 companies, who were participating for the first time with MTC, recorded over RM1.9 million in sales,” MTC said.

MTC said it had been playing a pivotal role in bolstering the presence of Malaysian furniture in the UK.

MTC Chief Executive Officer Datuk Dr Abdul Rahim Nik said the exhibition was a very good platform for these manufacturers as they tapped into new markets not just in the UK, but beyond.

He said that UK has always been a key export market for Malaysia’s wooden furniture, generating about RM321.9 million in exports in 2014, and RM335.8 million from January to November 2015.

“We anticipate the UK market to continue to grow due to rising consumer confidence and increasing household spending, low inflation, and especially with the completion of more affordable housing under UK’s £400 million Housing Zone

Programme over the next few years,” he added.

Among Malaysian companies that participated at JFS 2016 were Hup Chong Furniture, Tawei Furniture, YB Woodwork Industry, VS Concept Furniture, Feng Yuan Industries, and Dynamic Furniture Industries. — Bernama