Jun 01, 2005. /Lesprom Network/. Furniture sales in China's domestic market continue to grow rapidly and in 2004 total sales reached Yuan 273 billion ($33 billion), a year on year increase of 34%. Jia Qingwen, Secretary-general of China's Furniture Association, has forecast that demand for imported high quality furniture will grow further. Because of China's commitment to the WTO, the country has moved to a zero tariff on many types of imported furniture. This move has prompted the opening of new, up-market, imported furniture outlets such as "Beautiful Household Furniture Plaza", jointly managed by Henderson (China) Co. Ltd and Shenzhen Good 100 Year Furniture Chain store in Beijing. All furniture on display is said to be from world class producers from Germany, France and Italy, amongst others. The value of imported furniture through Guangdong port totaled $11.587 million; a year on year increase of 22% from January to February 2005 and the main reason for the increased imports was the reduced tariffs. China's Customs has confirmed that furniture imports in the first two months of 2005 were up significantly exceeding levels seen through the port in 2004. Imported furniture was mainly from Japan and the US. The value of imports was $4.41 million in January and $2.275 million in February, making up, respectively, 38% and almost 20% of the national total furniture imports. Imports of furniture from Malaysia, Italy and France have doubled recently and local analysts think that medium and high quality furniture has become more popular amongst consumers as incomes have grown and more people are buying their own home.