The annual All China Leather Exhibition (ACLE) in Shanghai is the largest and - by far - the most international leather fair in China.
The upward tracking curve of China's overall economy hitting double-digit growth continues: it is the only major global economy to do so. Within a relatively short time-span China has emerged as the world's second largest economy. (Or the third largest, depending somewhat on how you do the math.)
What is not in dispute is that an increasing number of overseas companies, from all over the world, and offering everything from raw material through to finished goods, are queuing up to enter the Chinese market. Among these companies are prestigious overseas brands who previously regarded the US and Europe as their prime markets, but now view China as the essential market they must conquer to ensure their future prospects.
Moreover, as the market in China develops, the requirements for ever more fashion, diversity, innovation and quality expand too. This means that not only the number of exhibitors and visitors grows each year, but the calibre of both continues to trend upwards too.
With access to a powerful database built up over many years ACLE is uniquely able to contact special groups. An example of this is served by the interest shown in 2009 for leather products used in the automobile industry.
A pillar of the leather industry, footwear, is also well to the fore at the exhibition – with raw materials, semi- and fully-finished leather, chemicals, tannery machinery, etc – while alongside, the China International Footwear Fair (CIFF), exhibits how these products end up as high quality and fashionable shoes, boots and sandals.
ACLE offers the perfect platform for overseas companies as the event is well established (12 years) and is organised jointly by APLF Ltd., who have developed the (still) hugely successful Hong Kong Leather Fair for the past 26 years, and the China Leather Industry Association (CLIA) the only officially recognised leather trade association in China.
As in previous years ACLE will run concurrently with, and in the same location as, two closely allied sector exhibitions: China International Footwear Fair (CIFF) and Moda Shanghai: September 1 - 3, 2010, at the New Expo Centre, Pudong, Shanghai.
Although ACLE is still some three months away confirmed exhibitor participation is already very encouraging. With an estimated numbers of exhibitors over 900 in ACLE, and 250 exhibitors in CIFF and Moda Shanghai. To accommodate them all has led to a requirement for six halls (E1 - E6), an area of 69,000 sq.m. For comparison the 2009 event occupied just 46,000 sq. m.
In the international halls, the following groups have confirmed participation at ACLE:
• Australia: Australian Hide, Skin & Leather Exporters Association
• Brazil: Assintecal – Brazilian Association of Companies of Components for Leather Footwear and Manufactured Goods
• Brazil: CICB – Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry
• Ethiopia: Ethiopia Leather Industry Association (ELIA)
• France: SGCP - Hides, Skins and Leather Traders Association
• Germany: German Leather Federation
• India: Indian Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO)
• Italy: Assomac – National Association of Italian Manufacturers of Footwear, Leathergoods, Tannery Machines and Accessories
• Japan: Wakayama Tanners Association
• Korea: Korean Tanners’ Association
• Mexico: ANPIC – National Association of Suppliers for the Footwear Industry
• Pakistan: Pakistan Tanners Association
• Spain: Acexpiel – Leather Industry Association of Spain
• Taiwan: Taiwan Footwear Manufacturers Association (TFMA) (who have secured a pavilion in CIFF as well)
• Taiwan: Taiwan Regional Association of Synthetic Leather Industries (TRASLI)
• Turkey: Aegean Exporters’ Associations
• USA: US Hide, Skin & Leather Association