This was the largest decline in furniture exports since the 2009 global financial crisis when the export earnings fell 35%. Demand fell in 33 of the 57 countries that imported furniture from the cluster.
The decline in furniture exports was put down to a loss of competitiveness in the Brazilian furniture industry due to rising production costs, high taxes, excessive bureaucracy and infrastructure problems.
Bento Gonçalves furniture exports fell in many countries such as Colombia (-14.7%), Peru (-25.8%), Chile (- 22.5%), Cuba (-35.6%), Argentina (-58.7%) and Venezuela (-51.8%).
On the otherhand countries such as Algeria, Angola, Zambia, Panama, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates increased their furniture imports from the cluster.
