In the first eight months of 2014 they exported furniture worth R$46 million ($11.7 million) but by August this year exports had already reached R$54 million ($13.8 million). For manufacturers in São Bento do Sul municipality 50% of exports go to the US with another 40% destined for Europe.
The furniture manufacturers in Santa Catarina work mainly with solid wood and have focused on efficiency and productivity gains to compete in international markets. The result of this has been positive but the price declines in dollar terms are of considerable concern.