Local furniture producers are projecting exports to remain flat this year as government support continues to lag behind the industry’s need for a wider presence in overseas markets.

Myrna Bituin, trustee for the furniture sector of the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport), said production of furniture this year will likely go down by 50 percent compared to last year because of lower foreign demand.

“So I think it is something that we should be worried [about] and we are looking to the government aside from Philexport,” she said in a statement.

As a result, Bituin said the industry’s export forecast for the year is flat compared to last year’s.

Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the country exported $337.69 million worth of furniture and fixtures from January to November 2025, nearly 40 percent higher than $257.93 million in 2024.

In hopes of reversing potential flat growth, Bituin is urging the government to provide financial support to the furniture sector, citing high costs of promoting products abroad.

“We really need their help, even only on the promotion. We’re not asking for help in our factories but promotion is very, very expensive because you have to be at the marketplace,” she said.

While furniture exports are on track for a strong growth in 2025, she said their share in the country’s total exports has declined from a high of 12 percent to just around seven percent.

In this view, attending trade shows abroad is critical for the furniture sector since these allow domestic exporters to promote their products and generate orders.

Bituin estimates that exporters must participate a minimum of three times in an international trade fair to “build trust, credibility, and market presence” with foreign buyers.

In addition, she said the government could also help furniture makers in product development to consistently attract new customers.

“You have to always be aware of the market trends, that’s important. And then productivity level ng company–that’s the key,” she added.

The local furniture sector’s appeal for more government support comes at an opportune time after the United States (US) moved to delay the planned additional tariffs on certain furniture exports, which were set to take effect on Jan. 1.

On the last day of 2025, US President Donald Trump moved to delay the current tariff regime on certain upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and vanities to Jan. 1, 2027.

From the current 25 percent sector-specific tariff, the US was planning to increase tariffs on upholstered wooden furniture to 30 percent, while on cabinets and vanities to 50 percent.

“Given the ongoing productive negotiations regarding the imports of wood products, the President is delaying the tariff increase to allow for further negotiations to occur with other countries,” the White House said in a statement on its website.

While some key products were granted exemptions last year, many Philippine goods to the US still face the 19-percent reciprocal tariff rate.