The Chinese furniture industry is making efforts to promote the industrial transformation and upgrading, as well as to innovate to achieve better growth amid the China-US trade dispute and national economic slowdown. These efforts can be seen through the 25th China International Furniture Expo (CIFE), which will be held in Shanghai from Sept 9 to 12.

At the expo's press conference in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong province on July 31, organizers said that they are promoting online-and-offline integrated business models for exhibitors to help them tap into the bigger online market.

They are also helping industry players that have mainly focused on exports to turn to the domestic market.

Organizers said the number of exhibitors from Guangdong this year has increased by a dozen compared to last year’s expo.

Guangdong has been a major market in the country's furniture industry. Total sales of furniture in the province hit 435 billion yuan ($63 billion) in 2018, rising 3.1 percent compared with the previous year and making up roughly 30 percent of the country's total, according to official statistics.

The province also accounts for more than one third of the country's furniture exports.

However, the industry is facing challenges of rising costs against the backdrop of the China-US trade dispute. In addition, the country's economic slowdown, rising raw material prices, and stricter environmental regulations have added to their difficulties.

According to Guangdong Customs, exports of furniture in the province stood at $19.4 billion in 2018, dropping 2 percent from 2017.

As one of the largest trade fairs in the furniture industry, CIFE provides a platform for enterprises to showcase and trade their products, as well as make exchanges with their counterparts across the world.

The expo, co-organized by China National Furniture Association and Shanghai Sinoexpo Informa Markets International Exhibition Co Ltd, will cover an area of 350,000 square meters. More than 3,500 exhibitors, including 222 from 29 countries and regions, will showcase their brands and products at the expo, according to the organizers.

More than 80,000 visitors have already registered to attend this year's expo as of mid-July, growing 68 percent year-on-year, the organizers said. Among them, the number of registered visitors from the United States increased 36.08 percent from last year.

More than 560 new brands will be introduced to the expo, as a move to inject fresh vitality into the annual event.

In addition, Maison Shanghai will also be held in the city at the same time, presenting visitors a design-driven trade show.

The press conference for the 25th China Internaional Forniture Expo, which is set to take place in Shanghai from Sept 9 to 12, is held in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong province on July 31. [Photo/mofcom.gov.cn]

A number of experts and media members attend the press conference for the 25th China Internaional Forniture Expo, which is set to take place in Shanghai from Sept 9 to 12. [Photo/mofcom.gov.cn]