Generally, all but the newest factories lack adequate and current manufacturing technology, as well as lack of management training. Best sales prospects for U.S. suppliers to the furniture industry lie in the areas of wood for raw materials, woodworking machinery, intermediate products such as paints, varnishes, glues, metal fittings, woodworking electrical and non-electrical equipment, upholstery materials and plastics. Statistical data on the furniture market is lacking and access is limited. Existing available data is often unreliable. Although the wood furniture industry accounts for only a small fraction of the country's total industrial output, and this small share is even less than it was a decade ago, it remains a vital part of the economy.
Some manufacturers export pre-specified material furniture to private label U.S. customers.
In Egypt, the production of furniture is dominated by small and medium-size enterprises. Most of the production was oriented towards the domestic market. About one-half of production is bedroom furniture, and the rest is mainly in the form of other types of furniture. Over the last decade, Egypt's imports of furniture have grown considerably faster than domestic production. The rapid growth of the population and increased per capita incomes have led to a substantial expansion in demand for furniture.