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Heavy reliance on imported raw materials has impacted competitiveness of the country’s furniture sector on international markets.

Furniture makers said that even though the sector’s global footprint had been expanding gradually, dependence on imported raw materials was barring the sector’s export growth.

They were talking to the ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· on the sidelines of the five-day National Furniture Fair 2025 at International Convention City Bashundhara. The five-day fair was held from October 14 to 18.

Sheikh Abdul Awal, convener of the Furniture Fair Organising Committee and vice-chairman of the Bangladesh Furniture Owners Association, said that the interim government’s recent decision to allow tax-free imports of raw materials for exporters would help reduce production costs.

‘This will make furniture more affordable and boost exports,’ Awal said, noting that most essential materials still came from China and were not sustainable for long-term industry growth.

He expressed optimism that the sector could follow the trajectory of the garment industry if proper policy support continued.

ASM Nur Uddin, adviser to the association and owner of Unique Furniture, emphasised the need for bonded warehouse facilities like those in the textile sector to boost furniture exports.

He suggested that the government should provide training to enhance worker skills and collaborate with the Export Promotion Bureau to showcase products at international fairs for greater global recognition.

Nur noted that while domestic raw materials were used on a small scale, larger investments could lead to significant production increases and cost reductions.

He also mentioned that importing machinery from China was necessary, and urged the government to establish local manufacturing plants for these machines to improve production capacity and lower prices.

He called for quick implementation of tax-free import policies for exporters in the sector.

Laila Ishrat Jahan Rushi, retail channel manager of Hatil, said that they operated 77 showrooms in Bangladesh, 19 in India, two in Bhutan and one in Nepal, while also exporting to the Middle East, the United States and the European Union.

However, their products were often exported under other brand names instead of their own, she added.  

‘We have no opportunity to use domestic raw materials because of the scarcity of forest resources and the lack of mature trees suitable for use. So, we must rely on imports.’ Rushi explained.

‘Our goal is to expand both locally and abroad, but we need policy support from the government,’ she noted.

She mentioned that they imported beech wood from Germany, medium-density fibreboard or MDF from Malaysia and hardware from China to produce furniture.

According to the Bangladesh Furniture Industries Owners Association, the country’s furniture industry is now worth about Tk 30,000 crore, employing more than 2.5 million people across 80,000 enterprises.

Selim H Rahman, chairman of HATIL and the Furniture Owners Association, said, ‘There was a time when glass was not produced in Bangladesh, but now it is produced locally. MDF also had to be imported before, but now it’s being made in the country. Maybe one day, we will be able to produce most of the raw materials needed for the furniture industry right here in Bangladesh.’

He stated, ‘Most of the raw materials required for the furniture industry cannot be produced locally. However, if we want to export furniture abroad, importing raw materials becomes necessary.’

He also emphasised the need for certification and regulation.

‘The wood available in our country needs SGS certification to prove sustainability and a government policy is essential. Materials like lacquer, hardware and fabric used in production are not produced in our country, so there’s currently no alternative to importing them,’ he added. 

When asked about the size of the furniture market, he said, ‘We don’t have our own market study, but according to the Export Processing Bureau, the current market size stands at about Tk 25,000 to 30,000 crore.’

Maksudur Rahman, owner of JMG Furniture, told the ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· that the government had agreed to provide partial bond facilities, which was reliant on bank guarantee. 

He advocated for institutionalisation of the furniture industry in universities and technical institutes, saying that it would become a key industrial sector in Bangladesh after garments.

He noted progress in reducing foreign furniture imports and also emphasised the need to increase the use of domestic raw materials.

Uzzal Kumar Saha, manager of sales at Partex Furniture, said that they were already exporting to India, Nepal and a few European countries.

‘We are responding to buyers’ demands abroad, but our export volume is still small,’ he added.

Regarding raw material imports, Uzzal noted that Partex mainly sourced from China, Germany, India and Taiwan.

While demand for Bangladeshi furniture is increasing, companies said that local production faced a major bottleneck and scarcity of domestic raw materials.

Similarly, Regal Furniture’s area manager Shakil stated, ‘If the planting of Mahogany, Teak, Garjan and Gamma trees increased, we could eventually meet our own needs.’

Major Md Eleas Ferdous, deputy manager of Style Wood, said that their products were mainly made from domestic wood collected from Jashore, though fabrics were still imported.

‘We are now competing with established brands,’ he added.

A few manufacturers were experimenting with local sourcing to reduce dependence on imports.

Dulal Roy, zonal retail head at Akhtar Furniture, said that they built one of Asia’s largest factories and cultivated Mahogany trees to support long-term sustainability.

‘It’s a long-term process since Mahogany takes 15-20 years to mature,’ he said, adding, ‘However, if everyone became aware and started planting trees, we can eventually work toward reducing import dependence.’

Dulal added that Akhtar’s furniture items were made entirely of solid wood, not boards. ‘Using domestic raw materials will ultimately reduce product prices,’ he said.

Navana Furniture’s retail head Abdul Hai said that they currently used domestic wood for production despite political instability affecting exports.