Ex-Works was tasked with overseeing the logistics of heavy furniture shipping from the Philippines, including unique and challenging projects like furnishing a newly established office for a highly esteemed travel agency in New York. This recent endeavor involved specially ordered and manufactured furniture, highlighting the team’s capability to manage complex shipping requirements.
Ex-Works, a renowned freight forwarding company in the Philippines, was commissioned by a client to ship a collection of heavy, antique furniture from Manila to New York. The collection included a grand piano, bahay kubo, an extra large four-poster bed, and a large, ornate wardrobe.
The demand and furniture shipping
The demand for furniture in the Philippines is on the rise, driven by several factors:
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Growing Market: The furniture market in the Philippines is projected to generate a revenue of US$801.60m in 20241. This market is expected to experience an annual growth rate of 2.81% from 2024 to 20291.
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Consumer Preferences: Consumers in the Philippines are increasingly looking for furniture that is both stylish and functional1. They value modern designs and high-quality materials, and are willing to pay a premium for furniture that meets these criteria1.
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Sustainability: The demand for locally-made, eco-friendly furniture in the Philippines is on the rise as consumers prioritize sustainability and supporting local artisans1.
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E-commerce Growth: Increasing customer awareness about online sales and e-commerce portals for furniture, along with the expansion of services offered by e-retailers, has also had a significant impact on the Philippine furniture market in recent years2.
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Residential Demand: The country’s growing middle-class population, coupled with an increasing GDP, has boosted demand for residential property. This surge in demand for housing structures has been the major driver behind the increased demand for furniture in the country
End to end furniture shipping and logistics
Ex-Works coordinated customs clearance and all logistical aspects related to shipping furniture from the Philippines to New York. Their services encompassed cartage, unloading cargo from containers, delivery to the designated site, unpacking cargo from wooden crates, and disposal of packing wood (dunnage). This seamless operation was facilitated by their network of specialized transport partners, including office relocation companies with expertise in handling antiques and museum pieces.
Cherry Garcia, Ex-Works Operations Manager, noted, “We’ve observed a growing trend of people purchasing entire container loads of furniture from overseas. However, a significant challenge in this project was the size of the furniture, ranging from 70kg to 1500kg per piece.”
Garcia emphasized, “While challenging, difficult tasks are not insurmountable. It’s about leveraging the right resources to ensure success.”
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Two 20-foot containers were employed to transport bulky items from the Philippines, including custom-made room dividers, tables, square butcher shelves, and a reception desk. Among these items, the largest was a remarkable 3.7-meter-long boardroom table, weighing 1800kg, boasting an 80mm thick tabletop, a single pedestal, and a concrete base.
Further challenges arose in the Philippines, necessitating crate assembly on a Saturday and the installation of the large and heavy boardroom table on the first floor of the office building. Situated on a wharf with a vehicle weight limit, the transportation required four separate trucks to comply with the weight restriction. Accessing the first floor involved removing a window and utilizing a forklift to hoist the substantial boardroom table into place. Initially projected to span two days, the installation was efficiently completed within a single day, minimizing costs and manpower.
Extensive planning is essential for projects of this nature, often commencing shortly after the containers have left their overseas origin. This planning must consider numerous factors, such as potential delays arising from Customs or Quarantine holds, scheduling the wharf pick-up to prevent storage charges, securing an appropriate site and team for container unloading, meticulous reloading and packing of trucks, selecting trucks that align with delivery point restrictions, ensuring the availability of suitable equipment for safe unloading and positioning of items, and making arrangements for dunnage and waste disposal.
