Sourcing Report: Philippines - Wicker Baskets
Rising demand for models made of natural materials is driving the growth of the wicker basket industry in the Philippines. Exports have seen significant increases since 2009 as key markets started recovering from the global economic crisis.
Annual shipments over the past three years have surged by an average of nearly 40 percent. The US leads as the sector’s largest foreign destination, accounting for roughly three-quarters of turnover.
The industry relies on a stable supply of indigenous raw materials not normally available in other sourcing centers in Asia. This advantage helps enhance design diversity and emphasize the low environmental impact of products.
This report focuses on the main types of wicker baskets from the Philippines – bamboo, rattan, Manila hemp and natural material.
This Philippines Sourcing Report is part of the Developing Country Sourcing Report series designed to provide buyers with information on new products from export manufacturers in Southeast Asia that specialize in handmade merchandise.
What you'll get
- In-depth profiles of 15 major suppliers with a comprehensive look at their product and pricing strategy, manufacturing and export capability, verified contact details, and more – this information is not available anywhere else
- 133 full-color images that depict popular export models wicker baskets complete with product descriptions, prices, minimum order requirements and delivery times
- Verified supplier contact details of an additional four exporters, including names, e-mails, telephone numbers, websites and key products
- Supplier information in tabular format to help you compare suppliers at a glance
- Results of the custom-designed supplier survey, which forecasts industry trends for the next 12 months
- An extensive overview of the industry discussing the main challenges facing suppliers
- An in-depth examination of the supplier base highlighting key characteristics of the different types of companies
- Details of the primary production centers
- An update of the latest trends in design, R&D, materials and components
- A review of the key factors that influence the price and quality of low-end, midrange and high-end products
- Comprehensive pricing tables featuring export price ranges
Key findings
Objective, methodology & scope
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
Supplier summary
Exports
Products & prices
Production & export statistics
Price guides
Supplier survey
Export prices
Export sales
Export markets
Major challenges
R&D focus
SUPPLIER PROFILES
Supplier matrix: Comparison of supplier location, sales revenue & export capability
Profiles of 19 verified suppliers
PRODUCT GALLERY
Bamboo baskets
Rattan baskets
Manila hemp baskets
Natural material baskets
CONTACT DETAILS
The wicker baskets industry in the Philippines is showing signs of improvement in terms of export performance. This development isbrought about by increasing demand from key markets abroad.
Foreign sales have surged overthe past two years. Shipments in 2011 manifested growth of 31 percent compared with the previous 12 months. In 2010, total revenue climbed to $15.6 million from $11.2 million the year before.
The sector’s marked developmentis attributed to increasing demand for products made of natural materials, including rattan, Manila hemp, and burior Corypha elata. Basketware that adopts these components accounted for morethan four-fifths of overall turnout lastyear. Exports from this line amounted to $17.4 million, which is 64 percent higherYoY.
The EU absorbs $1.4 million of totalsales. The biggest markets in the blocare Italy, the UK, France, Poland and Germany.Completing the sector’s top fivedestinations are Turkey and Canada,which account for $1 million and $282,000, respectively. Export performance is forecast toremain stable over the year ahead. Somelocal suppliers are wary, however, that the worsening sovereign debt crisis inthe EU might slow down demand and, consequently, the domestic industry’s growth.
1968 Export Corp.
1968 Export has been manufacturing decorative baskets for more than four decades. The supplier also creates capizand wrought iron housewares and home furnishings. Total sales last year reached $300,000.
The main market is the EU, accounting for 90 percent of shipments. France, Italy and Germany are some ofthe destinations there. The US, SouthKorea and India absorb the rest of turnover.
Product lines include bamboo,coconut palm leaf, rattan, seagrass, Manila hemp and buri baskets. The best-sellers are models with Christmas themed ornaments.
The enterprise targets all market segments. Small coconut palm leaf items available for $0.10 to $0.20 are considered low-end. The midrange iscomposed of decorative types quoted at $1 to $3. Laundry and storage pieces are offered for $4 to $25.
Natural fibers are sourced from the Bicol region and the provinces of Quezon, Cebu and Bohol. Paint, glitter,paper and ribbons are bought from the Divisoria market in Manila.
The company has two primary designers who create about 900 new models every year.
The supplier has a 5,000 sqm factory in the district of Dalandanan in Valenzuela city. Most manufacturing processes are done by hand. Painting and packing are performed in-house.Weaving is subcontracted to homebased workers.
