The All China Leather Exhibition (ACLE) is focused on leather sector companies looking to either enter the Chinese economy or expand their existing activities within it. Prospects for the short- and medium-term look excellent and, judging by the activity on the fairgrounds, ACLE powerfully reflected this trend.
The event took place early September in Shanghai and generally boosted the increased optimism that characterised ACLE in 2009. The fair’s total raw space coverage increased by an average of 25% - international and domestic halls combined. Since ACLE is about the leather sector in China, the mood has been upbeat for some time: a mood not necessarily in evidence elsewhere.
It confirmed the stark reality of the dominant role of the ‘China Factor’ in the global leather industry. Maybe not so surprising since a few weeks previously China’s had been declared the world’s second largest economy in terms of GDP, overtaking Japan. At just under 10% China’s annual growth is simply stupendous, especially given the ground shaking developments almost everywhere else in the world.
This is in contrast to the ‘advanced’ economies in the West and Japan, which reflect a growing unease that the economic downturn may not have ended; that there is a real danger of a ‘double dip’ recession.
What emerged during ACLE was that the prospects of those doing business with China are generally a lot more buoyant than those that are not. For Chinese buyer Bai Xue from Jinmau Furniture Company, the fair was “efficient and effective for business”. He added: “It provided me with rich information and the opportunity to network and conduct deals with numerous exhibitors in various sectors, from around the world”.
This is not a ‘new’ development: but it underscores what many have recognised for some time.
As an example: last year ACLE organisers, APLF Ltd, made a special pitch to Chinese car manufacturers to use ACLE as a resource for sourcing their leather requirements. Things move quickly in China, and as industry analyst Ron Sauer pointed out: “At ACLE we saw many more car leather tanners as exhibitors than last year. Some of their names are new to many and were only heard of quite recently.”
Mike Redwood, a highly respected commentator on the global leather industry noted: “ACLE continues to expand…. it is all about China and the return of chemical companies - who had stepped away from trade show marketing - to sit alongside the growing Chinese chemical segment.” Unstated - if these companies want to stay in the leather industry then they need to be at ACLE. This was demonstrated in Hall 2 of the fairgrounds: not only was it full of chemical companies but the CEOs of the large brands - remained present throughout.
ACLE ran 1 - 3 September, 2010, at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, Pudong, Shanghai.
About All China Leather Exhibition (ACLE)
ACLE is the most professional and recognised platform for the global leather industry to access China’s burgeoning domestic market. The exhibition provides the country’s largest variety of leather, components & accessories, manufacturing equipment and tools, machinery and technology and business services.
Held once a year, it runs in conjunction with the finished products fairs China International Footwear Fair (CIFF) and Moda Shanghai.
About China International Footwear Fair & Moda Shanghai
Two concurrent fairs, CIFF and Moda Shanghai, offer an unparalleled platform for sourcing footwear products, leather garments, travelware, bags and fashion accessories.
About the Organisers
ACLE is organised jointly by the China Leather Industry Association (CLIA) and APLF Ltd.
CLIA is the only officially recognised representative body for China’s vast and successful leather industry. CLIA has at its disposal the largest and most comprehensive databases of leather makers and manufactures of finished products, suppliers and buyers.
APLF Ltd. is a joint venture between UBM Asia and SIC Group. APLF organises leading trade exhibitions in Hong Kong, China and India. It launched the Hong Kong Leather Fair 26 years ago - which is still the largest and most international sector event for all of Asia, and has expanded into the related fields of fashion and lifestyle products.
About UBM Asia
Owned by United Business Media Limited (UBM) listed on the London Stock Exchange, UBM Asia operates in 13 market sectors with headquarters in Hong Kong. UBM Asia has over 130 media products in three categories: trade fairs, print and B2B portals. As Asia’s leading exhibition organiser and the biggest commercial organiser in the two fastest growing markets in Asia: China and India, the company stages leading events across Asia, with over 110 events attracting an annual attendance of 30,000 quality exhibitors and 1,270,000 visitors from all over the world. UBM Asia publishes high-quality trade publications for 191,000 industry professionals to capture the market trends and industry news. Complementing its exhibitions and publications are around-the-clock and industry-specific online B2B portals that provide a series of online trading networks, industry news hub and sourcing and marketing platforms for the world’s trade buyers and suppliers.
