Industry Overview

The furniture and related product manufacturing industry (NAICS 337) comprises businesses engaged in tertiary wood processing such as the manufacture of furniture in general, cabinets and countertops, exhibits and showcases, partitions, shelving, case goods, mattresses, blinds and shutters. With a presence throughout Quebec, it is composed mostly of Quebec-owned companies and remains one of the leading employers in the manufacturing sector.

According to economic data from 2009, Quebec has 1,654 establishments in the furniture sector, 85% of which are in the household and institutional furniture and kitchen cabinet manufacturing sub-sector (NAICS 3371). Compared with their U.S. rivals, Quebec companies are relatively small, which gives them, in principle, added flexibility and a greater capacity to adjust to market realities. Due to its proximity, size and strong demand, the U.S. obtains 94% of its exports outside Canada.

• *More than 30% of Quebec hardwood production is destined for the Quebec furniture industry, which represents one of its biggest markets. The most commonly used lumber, in descending order, are: birch, white birch, sugar maple, oak, ash, beech and American cherry.
• In Quebec, the household furniture manufacturing sub-sector comprises 50% of total establishments, mostly in the wood furniture sector.
• In 2008, the furniture industry invested a total of $88 million in new equipment; manufacturers no longer subscribe to mass production practices and prefer to deliver a more personalized product.
• ** In 2009, the total number of employees in the manufacture of household and institutional furniture in Quebec was 12,284 out of 27,360 in Canada. With 45% of the jobs in Canada, Quebec leads the household and institutional furniture sub-sector.

* Source: Ministry of Economic Development, Innovation and Export (MDEIE)
** Source: Statistics Canada, Table 301-0006 - Principal statistics for manufacturing industries, according to North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).