The main export destinations for furniture manufactured in Rio Grande do Sul were the United Kingdom ($24.8 million), Uruguay ($21.7 million) and Peru ($20 milion). Total Brazilian furniture exports between January and October were $588.3 million and the main market was Argentina.
According to the Furniture Industries Association of State of Rio Grande do Sul (Movergs), the state manages to hold onto its number one position because manufacturers benefit from a programme to compensate exporters for the high tax burden and from government incentives.
However, the advantage to exporters is threatened as the government plans to end the "Reintegra" programme through which it returns 3% of the value of exports to exporters.
The states of Santa Catarina and Paraná are the second and third ranked in terms of furniture exports with sales of $154.7 million and $100.7 million up to October this year. In fourth place is Bahia state where exports this year fell 13% compared to 2012.
The data on exports are reported by Movergs in collaboration with the Furniture Management Center for Innovation (CGI Moveleiro) and are based on Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade (MDIC) data.