Alicante’s furniture exports are not riding a wave of momentum right now. The provincial sector is experiencing a slowdown in sales, especially for furniture intended for hotels and offices, which is weighing on both international and domestic trade. The rebound seen after the pandemic has faded as the needs of businesses have been met, and broader factors are at play. International instability driven by ongoing conflicts and households facing tighter budgets are adding to the pressure. Companies remain hopeful that tariff threats from the United States will not derail their efforts, as the U.S. market holds significant promise for these exporters.
ANIeme, the National Association of Manufacturers and Exporters of Furniture in Spain, released foreign trade statistics for the first nine months of the year. The data show a disappointing performance for Alicante. Across Spain, exports rose by 1.9 percent to reach 2,311 million euros, yet Alicante posted a 1 percent decline to 83.1 million euros in international sales.
That drop may appear modest at first glance, but it carries weight when set against a recent trend. In 2023, there was a 1.4 percent decrease, and the year before, 2022, the province enjoyed a remarkable 26.3 percent expansion. Such a shift underscores the volatility the sector has faced in a short span of time.
Since the onset of the pandemic, the Alicante furniture industry has ridden a roller coaster. When travel restrictions, tourism slowdowns, and dining bans limited activity, many households redirected funds toward home renovations, which spurred a surge in furniture purchases. As constraints eased, the market did not follow the same upward path for the province, partly because a large share of local manufacturers specializes in hotel, restaurant, and office furniture that were temporarily closed. These firms waited for reopenings to see sales recover, a dynamic that left its mark on 2022 export figures.
After the initial rebound, the sector entered a phase of stabilization. The ANieme director general, Amparo Bertomeu, notes that it is somewhat expected that after a marked improvement in the contract market, activity would settle down, and it might take four to five years for investments to be fully amortized. This perspective reflects the balance between restoring demand for contract furniture and the need for longer investment cycles to translate into sustained growth.
Nevertheless, Bertomeu stresses that stabilization is not the sole challenge. The broader international landscape remains unsettled. Ongoing geopolitical tensions have kept market conditions uncertain, and the global economy has been affected by conflicts in regions where key clients are located. The result is a more complex export environment for home and contract furniture alike.
Markets Affected
Alicante exporters face additional headwinds from persistent increases in raw material and transport costs. In this context, major markets such as France and Germany—the two leading destinations—are not enjoying their strongest economic moments. The impact is visible in the latest trade numbers, which show declines in several key destinations. Exports to France fell by 6.1 percent, while the United Kingdom dropped 10.7 percent, Belgium decreased by 5.3 percent, and the United States by 5.5 percent. Saudi Arabia saw a much steeper fall of 42.1 percent. On the positive side, Portugal rose 12.8 percent, Italy climbed 7.9 percent, and Germany barely registered at 0.1 percent. These movements illustrate a diversified, uneven pattern across markets that adds to the need for strategic diversification by Alicante’s exporters.
In this uncertain climate, the sector remains hopeful that looming tariff conflicts will not derail Spanish furniture shipments. Bertomeu emphasizes that the region does not primarily produce the types of goods that would be targeted by such policies, so it would be illogical to block exports. The North American market, in particular, holds substantial promise, a sentiment reinforced by a recent New York trade fair where attendees reportedly left with positive impressions. The general expectation is for steady growth provided there are no new obstacles to trade.
Overall, the province remains cautiously optimistic about its export potential, while acknowledging the need to adapt to shifting demand, prices, and policy environments. The path forward is likely to involve steady diversification of markets and continued investment in product segments that meet evolving buyer needs as the sector navigates a period of transition.