With better performance than the furniture industry in RS and Brazil as a whole, furniture manufacturers based in Bento Gonçalves had a growth of 10.7% in their exports in 2019, compared to the previous year. According to data collected from the Ministry of Economy / Secretariat of Foreign Trade (SECEX), local companies exported a total of US$ 47 million last year. The foreign market represents approximately 5% of the total turnover of the industry, which consists of 300 companies located in Bento Gonçalves, Monte Belo do Sul, Pinto Bandeira and Santa Tereza.

Exports have been on the rise in the furniture sector over the past four years, increasing from US$ 34 million in 2016 to current values. There has been an exponential growth in markets such as the United Kingdom (+ 113%) and the United States (+ 135%), in addition to entering new markets, including Saudi Arabia, which now represents the 6th main destination of the furniture exported by the local furniture industry.

The International Director of Sindmóveis, Leonardo Dartora, points out that Saudi Arabia, as the largest economy in the Middle East, has had greater opening of its markets and has emerged as an important destination for the furniture industry of Bento Gonçalves. “This is the result of work involving analysis and diversification of markets carried out by Sindmóveis with the support of its International Committee and that reflects on the positioning of furniture companies,” she says.

With regard to 2020, the challenges are still great, but it is expected to be the best year for the furniture industry since 2013. We must consider greater economic growth in 2020, in addition to the continued increase in exports and important events of the sector that should heat up the market, such as Movelsul Brasil, from March 16 to 19, in Bento Gonçalves. The focus of the 22nd edition of the fair is the attraction of qualified visitors and the promotion of special actions to enhance the generation of business both in the domestic and foreign markets.

Top 10 destinations for exporting furniture made by the local industry

1st Uruguay

2nd United States

3rd Chile

4th Colombia

5th Peru

6th Saudi Arabia

7th United Kingdom

8th Mexico

9th Paraguay

10th Panama