Export picture (HS codes most relevant to this category)
- Total “Other furniture & parts” (HS 9403) from India, 2023: US$2.33 billion.
- Other wooden furniture n.e.s. (HS 9403.60): US$654.4 million in 2023; top market USA (~US$324.6 m), followed by NL/DE/FR/UK. Share of 9403: ~28%.
- Office wooden furniture (HS 9403.30): US$54.2 m (2023).
- Bedroom wooden furniture (HS 9403.50): US$22.2 m (2023).
- Kitchen wooden furniture (HS 9403.40): US$5.25 m (2023).
- Seats with wooden frames (HS 9401.69): US$38.1 m (2023); USA is the largest buyer.
Where in India? The Jodhpur, Rajasthan cluster leads India’s solid-wood export furniture (especially Mango & Sheesham). A WWF field survey documented 58 wood-based handicraft exporters around Jodhpur using Mango, Sheesham and Acacia as the main species.
Species-by-species: quality strengths & India/region specifics
A) Sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo) — the North Indian “workhorse”
Why buyers like it
- Hard, dense, durable hardwood (typical Janka ~1,660 lbf; average dried density ~770 kg/m³). Good machining; rated durable–very durable.
- Natural decay resistance; heartwood is very resistant to dry-wood termites; (sapwood needs treatment).
Indian/Regional edge
- Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh is India’s historic carving hub working mostly in Sheesham (GI-tagged “Saharanpur Wood Craft”). Motifs include vine/leaf patterns and deep relief carving.
- Jodhpur exporters use Sheesham widely for rustic/ethnic lines, often mixed with iron.
Compliance notes (Dalbergia genus)
- Dalbergia spp. (rosewoods) are CITES-listed (Appendix II; D. nigra App. I). Finished products ≤10 kg of listed wood per shipment enjoy a permit exemption under the current annotation; above that, permits apply.
- For Sheesham (D. sissoo) specifically, CITES restrictions on Indian exports of furniture/handicrafts were eased in Nov 2022, restoring normal trade for finished goods (subject to the annotation).
B) Mango (Mangifera indica) — sustainable, workshop-friendly
Why buyers like it
- Medium hardness (typical Janka ~1,070 lbf; density ~675 kg/m³), easy to machine and finish; takes stains from blonde to walnut.
- Popular for large casegoods (sideboards, dining tables) with spalting/figure.
Indian/Regional edge
- India is the world’s largest mango producer; mango timber frequently comes from end-of-life orchard trees, giving a by-product/sustainability narrative that resonates with EU/US buyers (verify chain-of-custody per order).
- The Jodhpur cluster specializes in Mango-wood solid furniture (often “reclaimed/antique finish”), enabling container-scale programs.
Tip for buyers: Ask for orchard-origin attestations and deforestation-free due diligence paperwork (see EUDR below).
C) Rosewood (East Indian rosewood = Dalbergia latifolia) — premium carving/inlay
Why buyers like it
- High-end grain & tone, prized for fine furniture and musical instruments. (East Indian rosewood is distinct from sissoo.)
Indian/Regional edge
- Mysuru (Karnataka) is famed for Rosewood inlay work (GI-tag “Mysore Rosewood Inlay”), anchoring premium décor and panel work programs.
Compliance notes
- Dalbergia latifolia falls under CITES Appendix II with the same ≤10 kg finished-product exemption; larger/furniture shipments require CITES permits/documentation chain.
- India bans export of logs/sawn timber of certain native timbers (including Indian rosewood) — finished furniture/handicrafts are the viable export form.
What makes India’s output competitive (by sub-category)
| Sub-category | Typical products | Strengths buyers notice | Where it’s made |
| Sheesham | Carved cabinets, dining, beds, accent tables | Durability & hardness for long-life furniture; deep hand-carving; rich brown grain | Saharanpur (UP) carvings (GI); Jodhpur (RJ) solid-wood programs |
| Mango | Sideboards, dining tables, media units | Stable & easy-to-work medium-hardwood, sustainability story (orchard by-product); competitive price points | Jodhpur (RJ) and western India workshops geared for volume |
| Rosewood (EIR) | Premium casegoods, inlay panels | Luxury figure/colour, premium finishing, inlay craft heritage | Mysuru (KA) inlay (GI) + south-Indian artisan networks |
Destination markets & signals
- USA is the #1 buyer for India’s “other wooden furniture” (HS 9403.60), taking ~US$325 m of ~US$654 m in 2023. EU markets (NL/DE/FR) follow.
- Overall furniture exports under HS 9403 reached ~US$2.33 billion in 2023.
Quality & compliance checklist (what importers will ask for)
Material & build
- Moisture content target 8–12% for export furniture; kiln-dry schedules appropriate to species. (House standard — align with buyer specs.)
- Testing against common furniture standards used by EU/US retailers:
Timber legality & trade rules
- CITES (Dalbergia spp.): Finished products ≤10 kg wood per shipment are exempt from CITES permits; otherwise, ensure species identification and CITES documentation chain. Sheesham finished products from India were explicitly eased (Nov 21, 2022).
- US Lacey Act: Plant (wood) declaration is required for many furniture HTS lines under the current implementation schedule — importers must declare botanical name, value, quantity, country of harvest.
- US TSCA Title VI (formaldehyde): applies if your item contains composite wood (plywood/MDF/particleboard back panels, drawer bottoms, etc.). Solid Sheesham/Mango/Rosewood parts are out of scope; any composite components must be TSCA-compliant.
- EU EUDR (Deforestation Regulation): Wood and wooden furniture (e.g., CN 9403 6090) are in scope; EU buyers will require due-diligence statements & geolocation for wood origin (phased in from late 2024/2025 depending on operator size).
- India export form: Export of logs/sawn timber is restricted; export finished furniture/handicrafts instead (common industry path).
Bottom line for this category
- Volumes today are concentrated in HS 9403.60 (“other wooden furniture”), with the USA as the anchor market.
- Sheesham & Mango underpin India’s competitive edge in solid, hand-worked furniture from Jodhpur/Saharanpur; Rosewood supports premium inlay/carving from Mysuru.
For Rosewood/Sheesham, align early on CITES/EUDR/Lacey paperwork; for Mango, leverage the orchard by-product story with traceability.
