The Polish furniture industry, a key contributor to the national economy, is facing severe challenges due to the rising costs of wood-based panels. Small furniture manufacturers have raised concerns, stating that this issue is being 'passed over in silence and ignored by all Polish media'.
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Poland ranks second in global furniture exports, accounting for 2.3% of GDP and providing significant employment. However, increasing costs are making Polish furniture less competitive in Western European markets, leading to a surge in imports from China. The primary factor driving this crisis is the European Union's sanctions on Russia and Belarus, which previously supplied affordable wood-based materials to Polish producers. EU manufacturers of these materials are now protected, but at the expense of furniture makers.
Manufacturers argue that while the EU imposes duties on plywood imports from countries such as Kazakhstan, Turkey, and Georgia, it fails to address the rising influx of cheap Chinese furniture. They question why 'the European Commission is not interested in the increase of Chinese imports while Polish exports are declining'. The letter highlights that imposing tariffs on raw materials rather than finished furniture products is worsening the situation.
The financial strain is evident, with one of Poland's largest producers, Black Red White, closing two factories, and many companies reducing work weeks due to declining orders. According to BIG InfoMonitor, outstanding industry debt has risen by over 52 million PLN in the past year, a 19% increase year-on-year.
Critics argue that the EU's trade policies, intended to protect European panel manufacturers, are instead endangering thousands of jobs in Poland's vital furniture sector. They call for a reassessment of these measures to prevent further economic harm.
Source: www.biznes.meble.pl