In July this year, the U.K. saw a rise in kitchen furniture imports for the first time in nine months, driven by increased deliveries from Germany. According to HM Revenue & Customs data reported by The Furnishing Report, wood kitchen furniture imports reached £26.4 million, marking a 2.2% increase compared to the previous year. This increase ended a consecutive decline streak that began in October of the previous year.
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The boost was largely due to a 6.9% increase in imports from Germany, the U.K.'s largest trading partner for kitchen furniture. Despite this recent increase, German kitchen imports remain 9.7% lower for the first seven months of 2024, totalling £76.6 million.
Conversely, Italian kitchen exports to the U.K., the second-largest foreign source, have struggled significantly. For 2024, Italian kitchen exports are down by 21% to £29.1 million, with a notable 36% drop in July alone, bringing the total to £4.1 million. This decline reflects broader challenges in the Italian kitchen export market compared to German counterparts.
Source: www.thefurnishingreport.com