Vietnamese Furniture Exporters Prepare for the 2027 Buying Season

Vietnamese wood and furniture businesses are preparing for changes in material traceability and buyer requirements ahead of the 2027 export season. On November 12, HAWA held a seminar in Ho Chi Minh City on the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), furniture design trends and market expansion strategies.

At the seminar, a representative of the forestry authorities introduced forest mapping and plot polygon coordinate tools to help businesses document the origin of their wood. Buyer representative Reine Karlsson said a single certification cannot replace a connected chain of evidence linking finished products, production batches, raw materials and land plot data. Businesses should establish traceability systems before production and address data gaps early.

Regarding the US market, HAWA representative Trần Lam Sơn said housing market growth is slow and consumers are more price conscious. Retailers are therefore tightening inventory management and placing greater value on suppliers that can offer flexible volumes and reliable deliveries. Upholstered furniture, furniture with moving mechanisms, and designs incorporating convenience and health features were among the areas of demand discussed at the seminar.

A furniture buyer matching event held the same day drew nearly 30 buyers and more than 100 Vietnamese suppliers. Organizers expect HAWA Expo 2027 to take place in Ho Chi Minh City from March 3 to 6, 2027, with more than 500 exhibitors, 2,700 booths and around 20,000 trade buyers and visitors from 100 countries and territories.

Source: VietVance