The All China Leather Exhibition (ACLE), China International Footwear Fair (CIFF) and Moda Shanghai, runs September 2 - 4, 2009, in Shanghai New Internation Exhibition Centre. Over the past 11 years it has developed as by far the most important and international trade event for China’s booming leather sector.
During this time the leather industry within China has developed and changed greatly. It has long been accepted that China’s leather industry was large, but it was generally regarded as a low-cost manufacturing platform for major overseas brand holders, and for servicing a domestic market which operated very much at the bottom end in terms of both price and quality. The situation today could not be more different.
Chinese tanners and manufacturers of leather garments, footwear and retail goods are highly regarded as customers for the most sophisticated raw materials, innovative production techniques and the very latest technology.
Today, many Chinese companies within the sector are thriving: in stark contrast to the extreme difficulties experienced in the leather sectors of other countries’ economies.
For example: leather upholstery for automobiles is booming in China’s fast expanding car market. (The car industry is growing by around 50% annually.) Chinese buyers, along with many in Asia, prefer leather for trim and upholstery. By comparison car sales in Europe and the US have plummeted. (General Motors in the US has just emerged from ‘Chapter 11’ bankruptcy.)
As a result ACLE, CIFF and MODA SHANGHAI are the vital exhibition for suppliers of goods and services, across the full spectrum of the industry, as it offers a ‘once a year’ opportunity for local and overseas exhibitors to meet and greet buyers from China’s leading leather companies.
A recent trend, and probably a fast growing one in the next few years, has witnessed overseas manufacturers of high end branded goods, such as high-end handbags and leather footwear, seeking to establish themselves with China’s fast-growing army of retail shoppers.
‘WARMING UP’
Business is improving for China’s leather sector as the uncertainty of a year or so ago recedes. There appears to be supporting evidence that confidence is returning to the industry, resulting in orders being placed for raw materials and machinery. Existing production lines that were taken out of service and ‘mothballed’ are being readied for use.
If there is one change that stands out it is the growing influence of the Chinese retail consumer on the market. Export sales remain a vital part of the Chinese leather sector, and will likely remain so for some time, but they are no longer the only outlet for manufacturers.
Interestingly, much of the domestic retail consumption is in upper- to high-end products: handbags, shoes, garments, etc. The demand for quality hides generated by the demand for leather upholstery in China’s booming car sales market has brought smiles to many in the leather supply chain.
This domestically generated demand for higher-end products should carry with it a demand for new machinery, raw materials, training, etc. geared to meeting these higher standards. This makes ACLE 2009 so timely.
There’s plenty to see at ACLE, CIFF and MODA SHANGHAI 2009.
Altogether there are just over 1,000 exhibitors of which about half (473) are from overseas, with the remainder (537) being domestic.
ACLE itself remains by far the largest section of the exhibition with 306 domestic exhibitors and 424 from overseas. An important feature of all established industry events is the number of ‘first time’ exhibitors, as it ensures that buyers always have an opportunity to see something completely new to them.
The truly international reputation of ACLE, CIFF and MODA SHANGHAI 09 is supported by exhibitors from 35 countries and regions, including Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Pakistan, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, The Netherlands, Turkey, United Kingdom, Uruguay and USA.
Buyers include: Department store group, supermarket buyers’ group, Russian buyers’ group, Southeast Asia merchandising group, Heilongjiang Province merchandising group, Upholstery Leather merchandising group, brand franchising agents group and manufacturing of shoes and leather from various province.
Last year just over 15,750 trade buyers attended the event: some 41.9% were from the Shanghai area and 18.7% from Zhejiang Province.
All this is reflected at ACLE. The 3-day event, housed within 5 Halls of Shanghai’s New International Expo Centre, in Pudong.
Although the beginning of this year looked difficult, with the hide and leather markets especially, the situation has improved enormously over the past 4 - 5 months. The mood in the industry has shifted from one of considerable pessimism to one of confidence. Confidence that the worst is behind us and that the leather sector generally, and in China most of all, business is getting back to normal. This confidence will be well reflected at ACLE, CIFF and MODA SHANGHAI.
For more information, please go to www.aclechina.com.
About APLF Limited
APLF Limited is a joint venture between UBM Asia Limited and SIC SA, Paris and is managed in Asia by UBM Asia Limited.
For fair details, please contact:
Ms Perrine Ardouin, Senior Event Manager
Email: perrine@cmpasia.com
For media enquiries, please contact:
Ms Emily Chan, Marketing Communications Executive
Email: emilykwchan@cmpasia.com
APLF Limited
17/F China Resources Building
26 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 2827 6211
Fax: (852) 2827 7831
Website: www.aplf.com / www.aclechina.com
