In the year 2006, Guangdong furniture industry kept its fast growth pace despite the price hike of raw materials and anti-dumping dispute, thanks to its self-improvement in innovation and brand construction, according to the Guangdong Furniture Association annual meeting yesterday.

According to incomplete data, Guangdong furniture industry's sales volume added up to 128 billion yuan, 1/3 of the national total and up 25.5 percent from last year. Exports totaled 6.92 billion USD, 40% of the national total and up 1.26 billion or 22% from last year.

In 2006, the price of raw materials for making furniture, including wood, paint, steel, sponge, leather, went up continuously, there were estimated that the total cost of furniture marking increased by 15-30 percent, forcing the market price of furniture up by 15 percent.

To offset the crash brought by cost hike and anti-dumping dispute, Guangdong furniture manufacturers put unprecedented effort in product designing and brand promotions.

Last year, under the organization of Guangdong Furniture Association, experts, company CEOs and designers in the province gathered to learn and discuss the industry's innovation and new technology, setting up production base, designing, international marketing and exhibition, which were the difficult problems the industry were facing. Besides, the Association held courses, lectures and symposiums for the designers in the province.

Furniture companies had more advertisements in various local media, and some brands became household names in Guangdong Landbond, Kinwai, DFH and Red Apple, four furniture companies based in Guangdong, were selected as "Famous Brand of China".

Editor: Donald