For many years, Portuguese companies have been strategically going for the Spanish market, using a group presence at the country´s 2 main exhibitions - Valencia and Madrid. This group presence is organised by the association in charge of the internationalization of Portuguese furniture - APIMA (Portuguese Association for the Furniture and Similar Items Industry).

The Spanish market is considered to be the first ´natural´ foreign destination for Portuguese furniture, not only due its geographical proximity, preventing logistical complications, but mainly owing to the predilection held by Spanish purchasers for furniture produced in Portugal. This interest in Portuguese furniture to a large extent is owing to an excellent quality/price relationship compared to foreign competition, offering the end customer a product with an added value that is higher than competitors´ products.

These factors are a direct result of the important technological increase (industrial machines and equipment) along with the specialist manpower and the traditional ´know how´ (characteristic of Portuguese furniture), as well as the incorporation of modern designs.

In 2005 the Portuguese group presence beat all the records, both at Spanish trade fairs and at the other international exhibitions. This year, 2006, the outlook is still very optimistic, taking into account that the data with respect to the Madrid Exhibition indicates that the Portuguese participation will include around 30 companies, occupying a surface area of over 3,100 m2. If we consider all the Portuguese companies that are taking part on an individual basis, the 2005 record will be roundly beaten.

This success is the result of a long and intense internationalization process by the companies, always backed by APIMA and by the ICEP (Portuguese Trade and Tourism Office), the main aim of which is to offer companies the best participation conditions at the trade fairs and to help with their access and penetration onto the foreign markets. APIMA, with its knowledge of the Iberian market can give extra help to the companies acting as a privileged intermediary and becoming a bridge, in the furniture sector, between the two countries.