Orders for Oak Cabinets Imported into the U.S. See Recent Growth

The U.S. kitchen furniture market is in a phase of steady growth. Even with the announcement of a new round of tariff increase policies, Vietnam’s supply of oak cabinet orders to the U.S. remains unaffected; on the contrary, orders for these high-end customized products have grown. There is an exemption policy for kitchen cabinets made from oak imported from the U.S. when they are re-exported to the U.S. This measure by Trump has not dealt a blow to high-end customized oak kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities.

It is understood that the release of renovation demand for existing homes in the U.S. has directly driven up import orders. Additionally, the upgrading of high-end features and functionality has also contributed to order growth. Affluent households have strong demand for customization and are not satisfied with the functions of traditional kitchen cabinets—customized functional zones are more convenient for daily use. Ordinary engineered wood fails to meet their standards, and oak, with its unique grain and high durability, has become the preferred material for high-end cabinets.

The "import growth" of oak cabinets in the U.S. actually involves a closed loop of "raw material export - overseas processing - finished product reflow": As a global hub for contract manufacturing of kitchen furniture, Vietnam imported white oak lumber from the U.S. multiple times in 2025, processed it into cabinets, and then re-exported the finished products to the U.S. This type of "transshipment trade" has led to a significant increase in U.S. import order data.

Leveraging its cost advantages and convenience in exporting to the U.S., Vietnam holds half of the U.S. imported wooden cabinet market, with customized cabinets as the core product category. Although tariffs on cabinets from countries like Vietnam have been increased, demand for engineering projects in the U.S. remains strong, and sales have not been significantly suppressed. Since the budget for customized projects is relatively large, many consumers do not mind this portion of the tariff increase.

Under the newly signed trade agreement, the U.S. has imposed additional tariffs on all wooden home furnishings produced locally in Vietnam. Following the introduction of this policy, Vietnamese furniture manufacturers and export suppliers need to place greater emphasis on origin management. For the origin of solid wood, they should preferably choose oak imported from the U.S. and may need to adjust their production strategies to adapt to the new trade environment.