Furniture exports grow by 6.1% until October

Exports of the furniture industry located in Bento Gonçalves grew by 6.1% from January to October, 2012 over the same period last year. Colombia, consolidated as the main market, accounted for 15.4% of the sales destination, which represented a growth of 12.8% over 2011. 
 
Chile, Uruguay, Peru and Angola were the other four top buyers, accounting for 54.5% of the exports from furniture manufacturers. The highest growth rate happened in the Uruguayan market, showing an increase of 42% over 2011. 
 
The problems to export to Argentina have gradually been eased. The country, which until 2010 was the main destination of furniture produced in Bento Gonçalves, was the sixth market for furniture made in this area from January to October, 2012, accounting for approximately 6% of the value exported. Even with a fall of 33.6% in the period, sales have shown a recovery in recent months.
 
The figures obtained by the furniture industry in Bento Gonçalves are above the state and national results, which had, respectively, an increase of 1.9% and down 6.2% over the same period in 2011.