RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian Furniture and Craft Industry Association (HIMKI) is encouraging national furniture industry players to expand their export markets to non-traditional regions such as the Middle East and Africa, aiming to boost export value to USD 6 billion annually within the next five years.

HIMKI Chairman Abdul Sobur said expansion opportunities remain wide open as global demand for furniture continues to rise. At present, Indonesian furniture exports are dominated by major markets such as the United States and Europe.

“We are confident that the global furniture market will continue to improve in the future. Therefore, we reiterate our target of USD 6 billion in exports. In addition to major markets like the United States and Europe, we also encourage our members to explore new markets such as the Middle East and Africa,” Sobur said in Jakarta on Thursday, March 5, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

Data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) shows that furniture exports contribute about 12.2 percent of the national handicraft subsector, underscoring the sector’s role as a key driver of Indonesia’s creative industry exports.

Allied Market Research projects that the global furniture market will reach more than USD 1,160 billion by 2034, up from USD 736 billion in 2023, with an average annual growth rate of 4.2 percent.

To capitalize on this opportunity, industry players are utilizing the Indonesia International Furniture Expo (IFEX) 2026, held at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE) BSD from March 5–8, as a platform to connect manufacturers with international buyers through business-matching activities.

The exhibition is regarded as a driving force for national furniture exports, serving as a global business-to-business (B2B) event that links industry players with buyers.

Acting Director General of Agro Industry at the Ministry of Industry, Putu Juli Ardika, said the government continues to provide support to strengthen the competitiveness of the national furniture industry, including by providing raw materials, improving human resource quality, and expanding market access.

He also highlighted Indonesia’s Manufacturing Value Added (MVA), which reached USD 265.07 billion, making it the top among ASEAN nations.

The Ministry of Trade recorded that the export value of Indonesian furniture and craft products reached approximately USD 2.22 billion between January and November 2024, demonstrating significant potential for further growth in the global market. ***