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Export furniture

Solid-wood, metal and cane furniture from Jodhpur, Saharanpur and other clusters; the USA buys the most.

Free to exportHS 9401
HS code
9401
Seats and chairs (9401) and other furniture — wooden, metal, cane, bamboo and plastic tables, beds, cabinets and their parts (9403).
Export policy
Free to export
Free to export under ITC(HS) Schedule 2. Wood must come from legal sources; some species (such as red sanders) have their own export restrictions — check the DGFT ITC(HS) search for the timber you use.
Registrations
4
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 1.46 bn
to 169 countries

What is exported

India exports solid-wood (mango, sheesham, acacia), metal, cane and mixed-material furniture, much of it handmade. Buyers are furniture importers, retail chains, online sellers and hotel projects. In 2025-26 India exported about US$ 1.1 billion under HS 9403 and about US$ 345 million under HS 9401; the USA led both, followed by Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, Spain and France for 9403.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Solid-wood furnitureMango, sheesham and acacia tables, cabinets and beds — the largest line (HS 9403 60).
  • Metal and mixed-material furnitureIron, aluminium and wood-with-metal pieces in industrial styles.
  • Chairs and seatingWooden and upholstered chairs, stools and benches (HS 9401).
  • Cane, bamboo and rattan furnitureHandwoven pieces from the North-East, Kerala and West Bengal.
  • Carved and inlaid furnitureSaharanpur carving, Hoshiarpur inlay, Sankheda lacquered furniture.

Where it is grown or made

  • RajasthanJodhpur — the biggest solid-wood and metal furniture export cluster; also Jaipur
  • Uttar PradeshSaharanpur (wood carving) and Moradabad (metal furniture)
  • GujaratSankheda (lacquered furniture) and Ahmedabad
  • Delhi NCR and PunjabKirti Nagar (Delhi) furniture market and NCR workshops; Hoshiarpur (inlay)
  • Kerala and KarnatakaThrissur, Ernakulam and Mysuru — wood and cane furniture

Export packing

  • Knock-down (flat-pack) where possible, with fittings in labelled bags and an assembly sheet.
  • Corner protectors, foam and five-ply export cartons; heavy pieces in wooden crates (ISPM 15 treated and stamped).
  • Silica gel in every carton and a fumigated, dry container to prevent mould.

Who buys abroad

  • Furniture importers and wholesalers
  • Home-furnishing retail chains
  • Online furniture sellers
  • Hotel and restaurant fit-out contractors

The quality buyers ask for

Moisture content
Kiln-dried wood, commonly 8–12% moisture as specified by the buyer
Strength and stability
EN 12520/EN 12521 (seating and tables, EU) or ANSI/BIFMA (contract furniture, USA) where the buyer asks
Formaldehyde
Composite wood to US EPA TSCA Title VI limits (labelled) and E1 or stricter in Europe
Finish
Lead-free coatings; colour and sheen matched to the approved sample
Dimensions
Tolerance on size, flatness and joint gaps agreed with the buyer

Certificates

  • Timber legality and EUDR due-diligence dataRequiredProof of legal harvest and, for the EU, geolocation of the forest plots.
  • Lacey Act declaration (USA)RequiredFiled by the US importer using your species and origin data.
  • ISPM 15RequiredWooden crates and pallets must be treated and stamped.
  • FSC chain of custodyOften askedFor buyers selling certified wood furniture.
  • Social audit (for example amfori BSCI, SMETA)Often askedRetail chains often ask for it before placing orders.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

Furniture fills a container by volume, not weight. A 40-ft high-cube is the usual choice; how many pieces fit depends on knock-down design and carton sizes.

How it travels

Sea from Mundra, Pipavav or Nhava Sheva (Jodhpur and North India units often use ICDs such as Jodhpur, Moradabad or Delhi).

Storage

Keep finished goods dry and ventilated; fumigate or heat-treat packing wood.

What goes on the pack and carton

  • Carton marks: item code, description, colour, quantity, gross and net weight, carton dimensions, "Made in India".
  • USA: TSCA Title VI compliance label on products with composite wood.
  • Assembly instructions and warnings (for example tip-over warnings for tall units in the USA).
Where to get it tested

IPIRTI (Bengaluru) tests plywood, panels and furniture; the Forest Research Institute (Dehradun) identifies wood species. Search NABL for labs accredited for furniture strength and formaldehyde tests.

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

  • EPCHHandcrafted wooden, metal and cane furniture is promoted by EPCH (wood ware and miscellaneous handicrafts); most furniture exporters take their RCMC here.epch.in ↗
  • FIEOIf your factory-made furniture is not covered by a specific council, FIEO issues the RCMC.fieo.org ↗

Quality and checks

  • USA: Lacey Act plant declaration naming the wood species and country of harvest; composite wood (MDF, particleboard, plywood) must meet EPA TSCA Title VI formaldehyde limits.
  • EU: wooden furniture falls under the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) — buyers will ask for plot-level geolocation of the timber. Confirm the current application date on the European Commission page.
  • Moisture content of the wood (buyers commonly ask for kiln-dried wood) and fumigation or heat treatment of packing wood under ISPM 15.
  • Stability, strength and finish tests (lead-free coatings for the USA) as per the buyer's standard.
How to start small

Pick one material and style (for example mango-wood tables from Jodhpur) and work with a workshop that already exports. Prepare a photo catalogue with sizes and knock-down options, join EPCH, exhibit or visit the IHGF Delhi Fair, and start with a mixed container for one importer against an advance.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Wood that is not dried properly cracks or grows mould in the container — insist on moisture checks before packing.
  • Shipping assembled furniture: freight per piece becomes too high. Design for knock-down packing where possible.
  • No timber legality papers — EU and US buyers cannot import without them.
  • US import duties on Indian goods have changed several times since 2025. Check the current rate for your code on the US tariff schedule and with your buyer before you quote.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (10)
  1. Department of Commerce, Export Import Data Bank — India's exports of HS 9401 and 9403 by country, 2025-26
  2. DGFT — Appendix 2T: Export Promotion Councils and the products under each
  3. DGFT — ITC(HS) export policy search (Schedule 2)
  4. EPCH (Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts) — official site
  5. FIEO — Federation of Indian Export Organisations (RCMC for products without a specific council)
  6. USDA APHIS — Lacey Act plant declaration
  7. US EPA — Formaldehyde emission standards for composite wood products (TSCA Title VI)
  8. European Commission — Regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR)
  9. IPPC — ISPM 15, Regulation of wood packaging material in international trade
  10. US International Trade Commission — Harmonized Tariff Schedule (current US duty rates)

Trade data

Indian furniture exports in numbers

From the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, Indian financial years (April–March).

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 1.46 bn
+3.3% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↓ -3.1%
US$ 1.5 bn → US$ 1.46 bn
Buyer countries
169
Average export price
US$ 9.45
per kg · 1,53,983 tonnes shipped · US$ 9.87 the year before
United States of America: US$ 570 mnGermany: US$ 132 mnNetherlands: US$ 92.2 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 78.1 mnSpain: US$ 57.2 mnFrance: US$ 56.7 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 52.7 mnCanada: US$ 38.2 mnAustralia: US$ 30.2 mnVietnam: US$ 28.6 mnMexico: US$ 24.7 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 24.3 mnBelgium: US$ 22.5 mnBrazil: US$ 18.1 mnRussia: US$ 15.9 mnChina: US$ 15.8 mnPoland: US$ 13.3 mnItaly: US$ 12.1 mnMalaysia: US$ 10.7 mnTürkiye: US$ 10.4 mnSouth Africa: US$ 10.2 mnNepal: US$ 9.6 mnIndonesia: US$ 8.4 mnPhilippines: US$ 5.8 mnBhutan: US$ 5.2 mnUnited States of America: US$ 570 mnUnited States of AmericaGermany: US$ 132 mnGermanyNetherlands: US$ 92.2 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 78.1 mnSpain: US$ 57.2 mnSpainFrance: US$ 56.7 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 52.7 mnUnited Arab EmiratesCanada: US$ 38.2 mnAustralia: US$ 30.2 mnAustraliaVietnam: US$ 28.6 mnVietnamMexico: US$ 24.7 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 24.3 mnBelgium: US$ 22.5 mnBrazil: US$ 18.1 mnRussia: US$ 15.9 mnChina: US$ 15.8 mnPoland: US$ 13.3 mnItaly: US$ 12.1 mnMalaysia: US$ 10.7 mnTürkiye: US$ 10.4 mnSouth Africa: US$ 10.2 mnNepal: US$ 9.6 mnIndonesia: US$ 8.4 mnPhilippines: US$ 5.8 mnBhutan: US$ 5.2 mnIndia
Where Indian furniture goes — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 1.23 bn1.2k2020-212021-22: US$ 1.68 bn1.7k2021-222022-23: US$ 1.42 bn1.4k2022-232023-24: US$ 1.46 bn1.5k2023-242024-25: US$ 1.5 bn1.5k2024-252025-26: US$ 1.46 bn1.5k2025-26
India’s furniture exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2020-21, lowest in 2025-26 — a 93% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 18.29 per kg18.292021-22: US$ 11.17 per kg2022-23: US$ 10.21 per kg2024-25: US$ 9.87 per kg2025-26: US$ 9.45 per kg9.452020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian furniture · US$ per kg · dotted = year in between not available

What next: a projection from the trend

The past trend carried forward — not a forecast by any authority. Sudden changes in policy, prices or demand are not in it.

2020-21: US$ 1.23 bn2020-212021-22: US$ 1.68 bn2021-222022-23: US$ 1.42 bn2022-232023-24: US$ 1.46 bn2023-242024-25: US$ 1.5 bn2024-252025-26: US$ 1.46 bn2025-262026-27: US$ 1.53 bn (US$ 1.32 bn – US$ 1.77 bn)1.5k2026-272027-28: US$ 1.55 bn (US$ 1.32 bn – US$ 1.83 bn)1.6k2027-28
India’s furniture exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 1.55 bn

Likely range US$ 1.32 bn to US$ 1.83 bn.

Trend
+1.5% a year
Fit (R²)
0.08 — weak, read with care
Based on
6 years of official figures

Method: a straight line through the logarithm of yearly exports (log-linear regression); range = ±1 standard error.

Biggest buyer countries

By value in 2025-26. Change is against 2024-25.

Name2025-26Change
1United States of AmericaUS$ 570 mn-12.5%
2GermanyUS$ 132 mn+0.9%
3NetherlandsUS$ 92.2 mn-12.3%
4United KingdomUS$ 78.1 mn+7.5%
5SpainUS$ 57.2 mn+19.5%
6FranceUS$ 56.7 mn-3.6%
7United Arab EmiratesUS$ 52.7 mn+8%
8CanadaUS$ 38.2 mn-11.6%
9AustraliaUS$ 30.2 mn-6.9%
10VietnamUS$ 28.6 mn+41.1%
11MexicoUS$ 24.7 mn+15.9%
12Saudi ArabiaUS$ 24.3 mn-25.2%

Where demand is rising and falling

Only countries that buy at least US$ 1 million or 1% of India’s exports of this product. Change from 2024-25 to 2025-26.

High demand

  1. RussiaUS$ 2.2 mn → US$ 15.9 mn+633.2%
  2. ChinaUS$ 10.2 mn → US$ 15.8 mn+55.2%
  3. VietnamUS$ 20.3 mn → US$ 28.6 mn+41.1%
  4. SpainUS$ 47.9 mn → US$ 57.2 mn+19.5%
  5. MexicoUS$ 21.3 mn → US$ 24.7 mn+15.9%

Low demand

  1. Saudi ArabiaUS$ 32.4 mn → US$ 24.3 mn-25.2%
  2. United States of AmericaUS$ 652 mn → US$ 570 mn-12.5%
  3. NetherlandsUS$ 105 mn → US$ 92.2 mn-12.3%
  4. CanadaUS$ 43.3 mn → US$ 38.2 mn-11.6%

Which forms sell, and at what price

India’s exports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity (TradeStat): the average of every shipment on that line, not the price of any one deal.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Furniture, wooden, other than for office, kitchen or bedroom use — other wooden furniture9403 60 00US$ 619 mn-10%8.5 mn piecesUS$ 72.71 per piecewas US$ 65.69
Others-of-other metal furniture :9403 20 90 · Furniture, metal, other than for office useUS$ 180 mn-13.1%43,401 tonnesUS$ 4.14 per kgwas US$ 4.36
Others-of-others-of-seats (other than those of heading 9402), whether or not convertible into beds, and parts thereof9401 99 00 · Seats, parts, for use in the assembly of motor vehicles as determined by the ministerUS$ 159 mn+19.8%25,269 tonnesUS$ 6.27 per kgwas US$ 5.50
Others-of-others-of-other furniture and parts thereof9403 89 00 · Furniture, of cane, osier, or similar materialsUS$ 88 mn+12.4%2.0 mn piecesUS$ 44.85 per piecewas US$ 48.43
Seats of a kind used for motor vehicles9401 20 00 · Seats, of a kind used for motor vehiclesUS$ 58.7 mn+24.5%4.4 mn piecesUS$ 13.37 per piecewas US$ 27.21
Furniture, wooden, for office use — cabinetware9403 30 10US$ 49.6 mn-8.3%13,930 tonnesUS$ 3.56 per kgwas US$ 3.73
Upholstered seats with wooden frames9401 61 00 · Seats, with wooden frames, upholstered,US$ 36.6 mn+2.9%428k piecesUS$ 85.43 per piecewas US$ 93.88
Furniture, metal, other than for office use — steel furniture9403 20 10US$ 32.2 mn-5.4%14,068 tonnesUS$ 2.29 per kgwas US$ 2.27
Others-of-others-of-other furniture and parts thereof9403 99 00 · Furniture, parts, of other than woodUS$ 30.8 mn+13.6%7,206 tonnesUS$ 4.28 per kgwas US$ 4.58
Other seats with wooden frames9401 69 00 · Seats, with wooden frames, not upholstered,US$ 27.6 mn-25.1%757k piecesUS$ 36.48 per piecewas US$ 34.00
Other wooden furniture used in bedroom9403 50 90 · Furniture, wooden, for bedroom useUS$ 23.8 mn-2%292k piecesUS$ 81.51 per piecewas US$ 75.04
Furniture, parts, of wood — of wood9403 91 00US$ 22 mn+9%6,197 tonnesUS$ 3.56 per kgwas US$ 4.15
Seats of a kind used for aircraft9401 10 00 · Seats, of a kind used for aircraftUS$ 21 mn+214.5%140k piecesUS$ 150.75 per piecewas US$ 252.27
Furniture, metal, for office use — steel furniture9403 10 10US$ 18.8 mn+11.9%6,588 tonnesUS$ 2.86 per kgwas US$ 3.29

The world market

Each country’s own recorded exports and imports in UN Comtrade, 2023 (the latest year nearly every country has reported).

World imports
US$ 176.6 bn
2023
India among exporters
#22
of 164 countries
India’s share of world exports
0.7%
US$ 1.39 bn
Left for others to win
US$ 194.1 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1ChinaUS$ 64.7 bn 33.1%
  2. 2PolandUS$ 14.4 bn 7.3%
  3. 3GermanyUS$ 13.7 bn 7%
  4. 4ItalyUS$ 12.7 bn 6.5%
  5. 5Viet NamUS$ 10.6 bn 5.4%
  6. 6MexicoUS$ 10.1 bn 5.2%
  7. 7USAUS$ 6.66 bn 3.4%
  8. 8CanadaUS$ 4.8 bn 2.5%
  9. 9CzechiaUS$ 4.66 bn 2.4%
  10. 10TürkiyeUS$ 4.07 bn 2.1%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1USAUS$ 53.1 bn 30.1%
  2. 2GermanyUS$ 16 bn 9.1%
  3. 3FranceUS$ 9.24 bn 5.2%
  4. 4United KingdomUS$ 9.15 bn 5.2%
  5. 5CanadaUS$ 6.71 bn 3.8%
  6. 6JapanUS$ 5.49 bn 3.1%
  7. 7NetherlandsUS$ 5.45 bn 3.1%
  8. 8SpainUS$ 3.75 bn 2.1%
  9. 9CzechiaUS$ 3.65 bn 2.1%
  10. 10SwitzerlandUS$ 3.52 bn 2%

Opportunity: what these countries buy from the world, and from India

Each country’s own recorded imports in UN Comtrade, latest year it has reported. The long light part of each bar is demand other countries are filling today.

United States of AmericaUS$ 56.3 bnIndia 1.5% · gap US$ 55.4 bn
GermanyUS$ 16.3 bnIndia 0.9% · gap US$ 16.1 bn
United KingdomUS$ 9.15 bnIndia 0.9% · gap US$ 9.07 bn
FranceUS$ 9.07 bnIndia 1% · gap US$ 8.98 bn
CanadaUS$ 6.65 bnIndia 1.1% · gap US$ 6.58 bn
JapanUS$ 5.43 bnIndia 0.1% · gap US$ 5.42 bn
NetherlandsUS$ 5.4 bnIndia 2.3% · gap US$ 5.27 bn
SpainUS$ 3.94 bnIndia 1.3% · gap US$ 3.89 bn
AustraliaUS$ 3.26 bnIndia 1.1% · gap US$ 3.22 bn
ItalyUS$ 2.9 bnIndia 0.7% · gap US$ 2.88 bn

TradeStat’s 2023-24 quantities are double-counted, so that year is left out of the price. Sources: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · UN Comtrade database (United Nations Statistics Division) · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

Step by step

How to export furniture

China is by far the largest furniture exporter, followed by Vietnam, Poland, Italy and Germany; India is a smaller supplier best known for handmade solid-wood, metal and cane furniture. Demand is driven by home-furnishing retail and online sales in the USA and Europe, and by hotel projects in the Gulf. Buyers looking for a second source beyond China and Vietnam have opened doors for Indian makers. Openings are in solid-wood and mixed-material pieces with a craft look, knock-down designs that ship efficiently, and outdoor and hospitality furniture. Rules on timber legality (EUDR in Europe, the Lacey Act in the USA) now decide who can sell.

  1. 01Design for export

    Adapt sizes to the market and design for knock-down packing.

  2. 02Source legal timber

    Buy timber with transit permits and keep records of species and origin for EUDR and Lacey Act.

  3. 03Season and make

    Kiln-dry the wood, then make, finish and quality-check each piece.

  4. 04Sample approval

    Send samples or photos for approval of finish and dimensions.

  5. 05Pack and inspect

    Pack with corner protection and silica gel; allow the buyer's inspection.

  6. 06Ship and claim benefits

    File the shipping bill, claim RoDTEP and drawback, and send documents to the buyer's bank.

  7. 07Get paid

    Advance plus balance against documents is common with importers.

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting furniture

Which council covers furniture?
Most handmade furniture exporters register with EPCH. If your product is not covered by a council, FIEO issues the RCMC.
What is EUDR and does it affect me?
The EU Deforestation Regulation requires proof that wood was not grown on land deforested after 2020, with plot geolocation. Wooden furniture is covered; check the current start date on the European Commission page.
Should I ship assembled or knock-down?
Knock-down usually cuts freight per piece a lot. Ship assembled only where the buyer insists or the design needs it.
What RoDTEP and drawback apply?
RoDTEP is 0.7% for 9403 lines and 0.5% for most 9401 seats; drawback is 1.2% for 9401 and most 9403 furniture.
Why do buyers ask for moisture readings?
Wet wood shrinks, cracks and grows mould in transit. Readings from a moisture meter, recorded per lot, reduce claims.
Sources (9)
  1. EPCH (Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts) — official site
  2. FIEO — Federation of Indian Export Organisations (RCMC for products without a specific council)
  3. European Commission — Regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR)
  4. USDA APHIS — Lacey Act plant declaration
  5. US EPA — Formaldehyde emission standards for composite wood products (TSCA Title VI)
  6. IPPC — ISPM 15, Regulation of wood packaging material in international trade
  7. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
  8. Indian Plywood Industries Research and Training Institute (IPIRTI), Bengaluru
  9. NABL — search for accredited testing laboratories

Who buys Indian furniture

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