Explore The Vast

Furniture and
Wood Products

The Philippines is known as the “Milan of Asia” for manufacturing high quality furniture, from the traditional to the casual contemporary to the highly experimental, for domestic consumption and exports. The Philippine furniture industry is one of the most labor-intensive and artistic industries in the country. Furniture companies tap the hardworking, creative and enterprising qualities of Filipinos in manufacturing high-quality furniture. The industry manufactures affordable products of exquisite craftsmanship that is the successful result of modern technology combined with human creativity and love of beauty.

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8.47% annual growth

The furniture industry is expected to grow annually by 8.47%.

Source: Statista

2.1M furniture industry workers

The labor-intensive furniture industry provides for 2.1M direct and indirect workers nationwide.

Source: DTI

US$755 million revenue

Revenue in the furniture market amounts to US$755 million.

Source: Statista

The industry relies heavily on locally procured raw materials such as wood (which represents 40% of the total furniture produced in the country); rattan, bamboo, buri and other forest-based or agricultural materials (which account for another 40%); metal, stone, plastic, and a combination of these materials (mixed media). New forms also emerged with two or more materials and in combination with grasses (seagrass), shells, coconut lumber, shells and leather. [146]

Manufactured products may be classified into two broad categories: 1) leg items which include chairs, tables, beds, headboards and settees; and 2) case goods such as cabinets, desks, wardrobe cases, chest of drawers, dressers and kitchen storage units. [145] Furniture exports are divided into the following sub-groups: rattan, wood, bamboo, furniture parts, metal, plastic, other materials and furnishings. [147]

Skills/processes done in the local industry include weaving, wood carving, marquetry, laminating wooden carcasses with rattan and wicker, leather, fossilized stone, and inlaying shells, coconut shells, animal bone or horn. [146]

Ninety-five percent of furniture companies in the country are classified as SMEs and the three major furniture production areas in the country are in Metro Manila, Pampanga and Cebu. Metro Manila and nearby peripheral cities in CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) consist of small, medium and large furniture enterprises that specialize in wood furniture and other mixed materials. Pampanga is associated with hand-carved wood, wicker and iron products, whereas Cebu, used to be the heart of rattan furniture making in the country, is now known for its fine wood furniture works. [145]

Rattan furniture companies are well-equipped with the machinery and equipment necessary for efficient production. Among these are straightening machine, splitting machine, sizing machine, crosscut saw, surfacer, thicknesser, sander, pneumatic jig, and finishing booth. Semi-mechanized production is the norm in wooden furniture manufacturing. Most factories are equipped with cut saw or radial saw, jointer-planer, thicknesser, planer, table saw, band saw, shaper, router, drill press, universal and wide belt sander, boring machine, hot press and multiple boring machines. [146]

Opportunities and
advantages

The market is expected to grow annually by 8.47%. (CAGR 2022-2026). The market's largest segment is the living room furniture with a market volume of US$351.20 million in 2022. [148]
Innovation in the use of indigenous materials is initiated by the private sector in partnership with local designers. Aware of the growing need to improve their productivity and competitiveness, the majority of furniture firms are investing in technology to streamline their production. [146]
While the industry is also capable of mass production, many companies specialize in producing customer-specific furniture items, which have higher value and durability. Specialization enables contract manufacturing, allowing the industry to cater to the growing needs of families, hotels, restaurants, real estate developers, and tourism-based enterprises. [149]
The strength of the industry remains in manual labor with good artisanship and craftsmanship applied in modern designs. [146] This gives agility and flexibility to produce furniture according to the needs and tastes of buyers. [149] Various government and private training facilities enhance the natural talent of Filipinos for art and design. Skilled workers and designers widely practice apprenticeship, thereby ensuring that the business and artistic expertise of companies are well preserved and enhanced throughout the years. [149] In addition, the strengths of the furniture industry include material variety and development, productive flexibility, ability of firms to produce low-end furniture to medium and high-end lines for small and mass production, high quality production of furniture products, and the ability of workers to communicate and understand the customer requirements. [149]
There are various sources of demand for furniture items in the Philippines. Coupled with the consistent high growth of the country’s economy and Filipinos’ purchasing power, the United Nations World Tourism Organization and Philippines’ Department of Tourism report strong demand for tourism in the country. Since tourism-based enterprises – such as hotels, restaurants, museums and leisure service providers – face growing needs to update their amenities, the demand for unique furniture items is also increasing. At the same time, the property sector’s strong growth and families’ easier access to housing credit also increase demand for household items – most important of which is furniture. [149]

Featured Companies

Philux Inc. Philux Inc. is one of the leading Filipino furniture manufacturers and retailers that was founded in 1980. The company is known for exquisitely crafted collections of furniture designs for residential living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms, as well as hotels, restaurants and offices. Manufactured from premium kiln dried local mahogany wood or sustainably-sourced European linden, ash, walnut or white oak wood, their furniture pieces are strongly characterized by refined aesthetics and a unique feel born out of a harmonious fusion between design and function. Philux practices age-old Filipino craftsmanship combined with modern technology and methods in an effort to produce quality pieces at the best possible value. The company has 200 employees involved in production and retail with a manufacturing plant in Parañaque City, Manila and 6 showrooms located around Metro Manila. [150].

E. Murio Manila Established in 1984 and located in Parañaque City, Manila, E. Murio Manila is a second-generation, family-run workshop that continues the tradition of fine, handcrafted furniture. E. Murio is a furniture workshop that designs and manufactures fine furniture, cabinets, home interiors, and accessories, finished off with their signature bindings and bone fittings. The company specializes in natural materials such as tropical woods, fiber and grass weaves, rattan, and bamboo and works with metal, leather, bone, veneers, and synthetic weaves. Their timeless, tropical pieces echo the brand’s Spanish and Asian roots, but are constantly updated with contemporary designs, techniques, and concepts. Their methods are the result of decades of experience, experimentation, and a specialized knowledge of the tradition of furniture making. The company has extensive experience in OEM, contract furniture, and residential projects, and has a vast catalog which contains both their heritage pieces, as well as their more contemporary collection. They also exported their furniture products to North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. [151]

Mejore Mejore is a third generation Filipino family-run business established in 1983 and serviced global clients such as Ethan Allen, Green Front Furniture, Lane Venture, Hickory Chair, among others. Its main office is located in Makati City and has a factory in Pasig City, Manila. The company was created to service the growing demand for wood based materials, millworks and other woodwork residential and commercial products for the retail, contracts and export markets. Mejore services include not only engineering and developing bespoke furniture items for clients but also the supply and installation of woodworks, decorative panels, built-in cabinets, and other wood products. With the aid of modern technology in design and manufacturing, the company is bringing the latest planning and production techniques while incorporating traditional Filipino raw materials such as the prominent use of local weaving (solihiya, raffia, etc). With its clientele of reputable architects and designers, it outfitted and supplied furniture to homes as well as some of the country’s most prominent hotels and hotels including Somerset Alabang, Amanpulo and The Lind Boracay. [152]

Murillo Though formally established only in 1993, Murillo is actually a company of people whose know-how and skills in the art of making quality furniture since the early 60's. With combined hands-on experience of the founder/designer Allan Murillo and his designer/artist brother Christopher in various stages of production, Murillo is one of the most experienced companies in the industry. Their close to 30 years-direct exposure to high quality, tastes and stringent demands of interior designers, decorator, architects and stylists abroad especially in Australia had given the Murillo brothers a wealth of knowledge. They create design concepts for the furniture, and do art works like sculptures, paintings, lamps and wall decors. Rattan, wicker, leather, iron, aluminum, wood, abaca, sea grass, and other natural materials are mixed with man-made ones. Murillo products are produced according to its tradition of using only high quality materials and made by the hands of highly skilled artisans. The company has about 150 craftsmen and craftswomen with most having an experience of at least 10 years who help them interpret their designs and art works. The Murillo factory and showroom is located in Cebu City, Philippines. Already acknowledged by their peers in the industry, Murillo has won twice in the best product design Mugna Award during the Philippine International Furniture Show in 2000, contemporary category and 2001, classical category. They also won for the Best Booth Design in the 2004 Cebu International Furniture and Furnishing Show. Its products have been shipped to many countries like the USA, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Turkey, India, Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Spain, Great Britain, France, Chile, Costa Rica, Hungary, Russia, Guatemala, Korea, Finland, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Egypt, Mexico, South Africa, Reunion Island, Bolivia, Barbados and Taiwan. [153]