Visitors up at APLF Raw Materials and Manufacturing
The organisers of this year’s Asia Pacific Leather Fair (Raw Materials and Manufacturing), say that this year’s event witnessed an upswing in visitor numbers and activity, indicating that the Asian economic recovery has stabilised.
Over its three day duration of the event attracted 13,253 registered visitors, with a total of 23,876 entries being registered at the turnstiles. The event attracted visitors from 84 regions/countries and provided a showcase for the products and services of 2,336 separate exhibitors.
Topping the list of visiting countries/regions were the Chinese mainland (3,246 registered visitors), followed by Korea, Taiwan, Japan, India, Thailand, the United States, Italy, Indonesia, and Bangladesh. Tanners made up the majority (60%) of the participants. There was also a significant reported increase in the number of companies exhibiting components – particularly from Spain, the United States and Portugal.
The focus country for this year’s show was India, which fielded no less than 64 different manufacturing organisations, plus a dedicated trend area where buyer’s could get a feel for the latest trends and technologies coming out of the country. Elsewhere in the exhibition, a ‘Leather for Living’ area provided a showcase for the latest ideas in leather interior design and furniture.
Next year, the APLF Raw Materials and Manufacturing Fair will be held April 9 –12. Significantly, it will overlap with the Fashion and Finished Products show (April 8-10) by two days, for the first time allowing visitors to take in both shows during a single visit to Hong Kong.
