Jul 19, 2006. /Lesprom Network/. France’s imports of upholstered furniture continued to increase in 2005, rising 11% to Euro 723 million, ITTO reported. Upholstery imports have been increasing by 7.9% on average since 2000. The bulk of these imports (over 82%) came from the enlarged EU-25 region, while imports from the 10 new EU member countries now total over Euro 60 million. The highest increases were recorded for imports from Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Imports from the Asia-Pacific region were also increasing, climbing 75% to Euro 103 million in 2005 and accounting for 14.3% of total French imports. Imports from China soared 50% to Euro 75 million, accounting for almost 73% of the region’s total. Italy remains by far France’s leading upholstery supplier with Euro 340 million, accounting for 47% of total French imports.