According to statistics from Guangzhou Customs, the value of exports of furniture and parts (including non- wood furniture) was USD4.4 billion in Guangdong Province in the first half of 2009, down 12% from last year. Of the total, the exports to US and EU were USD 1.52 billion and USD1.06 billion, respectively, down 26% and 11% respectively. To cope with this difficult situation, the Guangdong furniture industry has actively explored ASEAN markets and the export value to these areas continued to rise. In the first half of 2009 the value of its furniture exports to ASEAN was USD440 million. Guangdong furniture is exported to all ASEAN countries except Laos. The value of furniture exports to Malaysia was over USD200 million, to Singapore was USD150 million, more than two times their worth in the first half of 2008. According to experts, ASEAN countries have become one of the largest markets for Guangdong furniture.
