Muar-based factories scramble to fulfill US orders before 24% import tax possibly takes effect

Malaysian furniture manufacturers, especially those in Johor’s Muar district, are working around the clock to fulfill orders for the United States in a high-stakes race against the clock following President Donald Trump’s 90-day tariff reprieve.

Muar, long hailed as Malaysia’s furniture capital, exports over 60% of its output to the United States. However, Trump’s latest move — threatening a 24% blanket tariff on Malaysian imports, then offering a temporary 10% rate for 90 days — has triggered urgent action among local exporters. Companies are now rushing to ship as many products as possible before the higher rate potentially kicks in.

Factories Push Output Into Overdrive

At Corporate Specialist, a kitchen furniture company in Muar, operations are in overdrive. Chief Financial Officer Peihing Tsai said the company — which exports all of its products to the US — managed to push out over 30 containers in just four days, a volume typically shipped over an entire month.

“We are working overtime now and trying our best to motivate our workers, because these three months will be very busy,” Tsai told reporters on April 12. The temporary 10% tariff reprieve acts as a ticking clock for exporters before the threatened 24% rate possibly kicks in.

Higher Prices Loom for US Consumers

The potential tariff hike is expected to send ripple effects across American retail, impacting everything from mobile phones to clothing and furniture. Trump’s tariff proposal may mark the end of the low-cost import era that defined global supply chains for over two decades. Tsai warned that if the 24% rate is enforced, the cost will eventually fall on American end-consumers. “There’s no way we can shift production to the US. The cost is astronomical,” he said.

Pressure and Uncertainty in the Supply Chain

The uncertainty is straining small- and medium-sized exporters. Natural Signature’s general manager, Candice Lim, said the tariff threats may be more of a negotiation tactic than a long-term policy move. “It is unlikely to go on in this way,” she remarked. “Otherwise, how can the American people stand it?”

Still, many exporters are not taking chances. Workers are pulling double shifts, and port activity around Muar has surged as containers are loaded at record speed. Every day counts in this tariff countdown, especially for businesses heavily reliant on the US market.

Malaysia’s Export-Heavy Sector Feels the Heat

With Malaysia’s furniture exports valued at over RM12 billion annually — and the US being the largest buyer — the stakes are especially high. Muar’s concentration of skilled craftsmen, efficient logistics, and integrated suppliers makes it a global leader in ready-to-assemble furniture, but one highly vulnerable to policy shifts in its biggest market.

Trump’s tariff threat has sent Malaysia’s furniture industry into emergency mode, highlighting how policy shifts in Washington can destabilize economies across the Pacific. As factories in Muar burn the midnight oil, the coming weeks may determine not just order volumes — but whether the US remains a viable market for Malaysian-made furniture.

Sources: CNA (2025), AP News (2025)

Keywords: Malaysia Furniture Export, Trump Tariff Deadline, US Malaysia Trade, Muar Factory Rush, Tariff Avoidance