Wood, furniture, and interior design are simultaneously affected by raw lumber, lumber, and panel prices (sawn lumber, plywood, and MDF), logistics, exchange rates, and environmental and safety regulations
. Amid growing demand for eco-friendly construction and remodeling and the rise of online furniture sales, wood legality, emission regulations (formaldehyde and VOCs), and Extended Product Recycling (EPR) (packaging and furniture take-back) requirements are strengthening.
Risk factors | 2025-2026 Outlook | Influence (1~5) | Implications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw material prices (logs and boards) | Moderate volatility, differentiated by product | 4 | Long-term offtake and alternative species portfolio |
| Legal timber/forest certification (EUTR, etc.) | Strengthening traceability and evidence | 5 | Permanent FSC/PEFC/origin documentation |
| Indoor air quality regulations (E0/E1 grade) | Raising formaldehyde/VOC standards | 4 | Transition to low-emission bonding and coating processes |
| Logistics/Exchange Rates | Entering the stable zone | 2 | CIF/FOB·Insurance Redesign |
| Design and Safety Standards | Expanded load capacity/flame retardancy/labeling/safety | 3 | A pre-approval system for testing and labeling is needed. |
For paneling and furniture, the reduced tariff rate significantly affects the overall effect. Key practical requirements include PSR (Revised Tariff Change, RVC), proof of legal wood use, and formaldehyde/VOC documentation .
For custom furniture and DIY materials, managing the country of origin is challenging due to the country of origin of auxiliary materials (hardware and paint) .
Classification (example HS) | FTA applicability (trend) | Major challenges | Management Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lumber and board (HS4407/4411/4412) | Feel the reduction through RCEP and bilateral FTAs | Legal timber certification and tree species identification | CITES/FSC·CO by species·Quarantine documents |
| Wooden furniture (HS9403) | Increased frequency of low-rate/tariff-free policies in the US, EU, and ASEAN | RVC/CTH·Nationality of Materials | BOM, country of origin, and unification of auxiliary materials |
| Seats and Mattresses (HS9401/9404) | Medium to high tariff effect | Flame retardant, safety, and labeling | Test report/material label/safety standard |
| Flooring, molding, and doors | Classification/flame retardant grade | VOC, flame retardant, wear resistant | Continuous update of product standards and performance documents |
For the US and EU, legal timber, chemicals, safety, and labeling are more important than tariffs. For ASEAN, tariff reductions, customs clearance, and addressing deviations from local standards are crucial.
market | Representative items | MFN (trend) | When FTA is applied | Non-tariff barriers (example) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | Wooden furniture and flooring | Medium rate | Low-rate/tariff-free expansion | TSCA/Formaldehyde, TIP-over, label | Observe safety regulations for children and household use |
| EU | Board materials and furniture | Medium rate | 0%/discount | EUTR (legal wood), E1/E0, REACH | FSC/PEFC·Low Emissions Required |
| uk | Furniture and flooring | Medium rate | Inha | UK Timber Reg., label | Similar to the EU, but with separate procedures |
| ASEAN | Furniture/DIY | Medium rate | RCEP/Bilateral Reduction | Quarantine, Standards, and Local Labels | Advantageous use of accumulated funds within the region |
Note: Required documents and tests may vary depending on HS, species, adhesive, and coating ingredients, so prior approval and sample label approval are recommended.
Although not directly subject to CBAM, regulations on forestry, legality, recycling, and indoor air quality are becoming increasingly sophisticated as supply requirements.
Europe is expanding its furniture Extended Product Responsibility (EPR), and domestic and international public procurement is increasingly requiring low-emission and eco-friendly certification .
System/Issue | Core requirements | Influence (1~5) | react |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal timber (EUTR/national legality) | Origin, logging permit, and transportation documents | 5 | FSC/PEFC·Traceability System |
| Indoor Air Quality (E0/E1/California CARB) | Formaldehyde/VOC emission limits | 5 | Low-emission adhesives/coatings/testing on a regular basis |
| EPR (furniture/packaging) | Recovery, Recycling, and Labeling | 4 | Modular, disassembled design, and r-materials |
| Eco-friendly procurement | Eco-friendly certification/LCA | 3 | K-Mark/Eco Label/LCA Data |
Korea: A hub for premium custom furniture, custom interiors, and smart manufacturing (digital cutting/edge, PLM).
Vietnam/Malaysia/Indonesia: Mass production/sheet processing + RCEP accumulation (optimal tariffs/lead time)
EU/US Local: Label, Safety, and Low-Emissions Microfactory (Last-Mile Assembly/Installation)
Raw material linkage: Long-term offtake through CITES and legal timber acquisition + high-value-added finishing/assembly in Korea
Combining news and policy sentiment (α), global sentiment (β), and housing and remodeling demand indicators (λ), we expect a gradual recovery in online sales and remodeling demand , with improvements centered on paneling and furniture .
variable | Δ(%) or exponent | analysis |
|---|---|---|
| ΔExport_now | +2.0 | Exports of sheet metal and custom furniture are increasing simultaneously. |
| ΔImport_now | +1.3 | Reinforcement of wood, boards, hardware, and paint |
| ΔPrice_now | +0.4 | Reflection of low-emission and premium finishing material unit prices |
| ΔSignal_now | +0.026 | Improving housing and remodeling psychology |
| ΔFTAEffect | +0.30 | Tariff gap + regional cumulative effect |
| Forecast_3M | +0.47 | A gradual improvement is expected over the next three months. |
Formula (summary): Forecast_3M = 0.5·ΔSignal + 0.3·ΔFTAEffect + 0.2·ΔPrice
field | Suggestion | Executor | Expected effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal timber and traceability | Electronic Document Platform for Origin, Logging, and Transportation | Korea Forest Service and Korea Customs Service | Minimizing customs clearance risks |
| Low Emission Standard | E0/E1·CARB Mutual Recognition Guide | Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Ministry of Environment | Reduce testing and documentation costs |
| FTA+RCEP cumulative | Automation of BOM origin including auxiliary materials | Korea Customs Service and KOTRA | Increase utilization rate and bidding competitiveness |
| Circular Economy/EPR | Recovery, Refurbishment, and Recycling Incentives | Ministry of Environment/Local Government | ESG scores and procurement competitiveness |
| Smart manufacturing | Digital Cutting/PLM·Mass Customization | Ministry of SMEs and Startups/Innovation Center | Reduce lead time/inventory costs |
The effectiveness of the FTA for wood, furniture, and interior design is the sum of tariff reduction and legal wood, low emissions, safety, and labeling compliance.
Forecast_3M: +0.47 — A gradual increase driven by remodeling and online demand.
Recommended strategies: ① FSC/PEFC·legal wood system ② Regularization of E0/E1·CARB testing ③ RCEP accumulation·automation of the origin of auxiliary materials ④ Modular·refurbished-based EPR response.
