Rising furniture prices in Addis Abeba highlight challenges for local manufacturers amid economic pressures. Workshops face forex shortages, policy delays, and supply chain issues affecting the urban economy. Stories from firms like Posh Woodwork and Zerufam Industry illustrate the growing vulnerabilities.
The furniture manufacturing sector in Addis Abeba, long considered a reliable part of the city's economy, now contends with escalating costs that threaten its stability. As prices climb, workshops across the capital are squeezed by a combination of foreign exchange shortages, slow policy responses, and disruptions in supply chains. These issues ripple through the broader urban economy, impacting various enterprises.
Reports detail the experiences of specific manufacturers, such as Posh Woodwork and Zerufam Industry, which exemplify the fragility of local businesses in this environment. The sector, once steady though unremarkable, now mirrors wider economic headwinds that challenge growth and sustainability in Addis Abeba.
According to Surafel Mulugeta, a Fortune staff writer, these dynamics underscore the vulnerabilities faced by small-scale producers. The article, dated January 17, 2026, emphasizes how such pressures are not isolated but part of a larger pattern affecting Ethiopian urban industries.
