India Office Furniture Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)

The office furniture market in India is expected to grow at a strong rate in the forecast period. The market is witnessing significant growth owing to factors such as the growing Indian economy and subsequent demand for office spaces.

The thrust on real estate and office construction is expected to sustain in the near future, indicating continued growth for the office furniture industry. Moreover, the corporate sector in India is uplifting on the back of ease of doing business reforms introduced by the government. Apart from the demand for the creation of new office space, the demand for office furniture is also driven by the renovation of existing offices.

India is also one of the biggest importers of office furniture, accounting for nearly one-fifth of the world's imports of office furniture. The office furniture in general accounts for nearly 20% of the total furniture sales in the country, with the growth of the sector being driven by the country's rising number of domestic clerical firms, overseas invested firms, and technology parks. The growing popularity of B2B e-commerce platforms has also contributed to the rise in import levels in this sector.

The market is also witnessing a new surge in ergonomic designs as ergonomic furniture for instance office chair helps in maintain correct back postures and is comfortable for long sitting hours.

Key Market Trends

Increase in The Number of Office Furniture Imports

India is one of the largest importers of office furniture in the world. India’s furniture imports are growing mainly due to lack of modernization and innovative design, lack of skilled labor, limited market access, and lack of quality control in the domestic furniture industry. The market outlook for imported office furniture is on the rise. India majorly imports from China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Italy, and Thailand.

MNCs like Teknion has appointed sub-contractors for the installation of its furniture solutions as the company imports furniture from its plants in Malaysia. Similarly, in the branded segment Durian sells imported furniture through 40-odd outlets. The advent of e-commerce platforms in the B2B space has further facilitated placing overseas orders. Chinese furniture is also becoming the trend due to the increasing cost of good quality local timber which is in short supply. According to industry estimates, there are currently about 10,000 dealers who import office furniture in India.

Wood is the Most Widely Used Product for Office Furniture Production

Various types of raw materials are used for making furniture in India. The key raw materials include wood, metal, and plastic, with bamboo and cane also being used in some cases. However, wood accounts for nearly 65 percent of all furniture made in India. Wood furniture is preferred in offices as it lasts longer than other materials. For instance, Solid wood and plywood both are widely used in the construction of executive desks. Solid wood gives a high-class appeal to the office desks and plywood is used in rounding up the log which provides the shiny appearance to the surfaces.

The executive desks in the office also require quality and class which can only be derived with solid wood. Sturdy and durable woods are taken into account for the construction of executive desks. Some of the most preferred wood types for construction of office furniture products include cherry, oak, maple, mahogany, and walnut are best suitable and their preferred color ranges vary from light ash to deep red.

Competitive Landscape

The office furniture market in India is fragmented with the unorganized sector dominating the market. The unorganized sector accounts for nearly 75% of the office furniture market and the remaining is held by the organized sector. Earlier, the market was dominated by Indian companies such as Nilkamal, Durian, and Damro however, now there are many foreign players entering the Indian market. With more innovative designs flooding the market, the demand for modular offices is also increasing.

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support