Sofa imports to the UK saw a significant increase in December 2024, marking a new record for the month at £111.8 million, an 18% rise compared to the previous year, according to HM Revenue & Customs data compiled by The Furnishing Report. This growth was driven by a sharp rise in imports from Italy and China.
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Italy experienced the most significant rise, with sofa shipments growing 56% to £7.7 million, likely influenced by ScS's shift towards products from Poltronesofà, its Italian parent company. Chinese imports, valued at £63.4 million, also saw a notable increase of 43%, playing a key role in the overall growth. In contrast, imports from Poland fell by 14% to £21.7 million during the same period.
These December figures mean the full-year sofa import data shows a 4% increase overall. While these numbers provide a clear picture of the import trends, they are subject to revision in future months as more data is compiled.
This growth highlights the shifting dynamics of the UK upholstery market, with stronger contributions from both Italy and China in the latter months of 2024.
Source: www.thefurnishingreport.com