In 2004 France increased furniture import/consumption ratios from 29.9% to 33%

May 18, 2006. /Lesprom Network/. Among Western European countries (EU-15 plus Switzerland and Norway), France is the fourth office furniture consumer with a share of 12% of total European office furniture demand, ITTO reported. Office furniture accounts for roughly 11% of total production in the furniture sector in France. After the slowdown in the economy in recent years and despite a slight drop in furniture output value, the French market seems to be stabilizing. In 2004, apparent domestic consumption of office furniture (production plus imports minus exports) in France amounted to Euro 893 million, down 1.8% from 2003 at constant prices. In 2004, the French market for office furniture showed an increasing degree of openness to foreign trade. Both the export/production and the import/consumption ratios rose, reaching 20.4% and 33%, respectively, up from 18% and 29.9% in 2003. These ratios continued to grow in 2005. According to official statistics, there are over 600 firms in France producing furniture and furnishing for offices and shops (excluding seating) that employed a workforce of around 14 000 people. Firms producing office furniture account for roughly 3.7% of the 17 000 firms active in the furniture sector in France, which employ a total of 82 000 workers.