All China Leather Exhibition (ACLE) will be held on 1st – 3rd September 2020 in Shanghai, as originally planned.
The 2020 ACLE will be the first post COVID-19 international leather exhibition to be organised. More than ever, the fair will be a very important occasion for the industry to relaunch business.
Despite the market sentiment at the start of the year, the IMF is still forecasting the economy to grow by 1.2% in 2020 followed by an expected rebound of up to 9.2% in GDP terms in 2021.
There is no better time to reestablish and reposition companies in China’s market that will be the major contributor to the return of global economic growth in 2021.
As lockdowns are eased, retail will gradually improve both online and for brick-and-mortar sales in Europe and USA with China’s domestic retail market leading the way as we head into Q3 and Q4 and then into 2021.
Exhibitions resume in China
Global business has been disrupted by the world-wide virus outbreak since WHO announced the COVID-19 as a pandemic. Lockdowns in many countries have reduced the global demand for fashion and leather goods. However, with China’s improving situation and countries beginning to ease the lockdowns, businesses, including the exhibition industry are getting back on track.
In China, the first exhibition (Hunan Automobile Show) after the pandemic, was successfully held on 30th April, with 100 brands exhibiting and occupying 60,000 sqm at the Huanan International Exhibition Centre. The situation is further boosted by the announcement of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China which now permits exhibitions to take place again.
Leather industry back to business
The retailing businesses in China quickly rebounded thanks to “revenge spending” after shoppers in China had been on lockdown, and had observed months of social distancing.
According to reports published by Leatherbiz, domestic demand triggered Chinese tanners to purchase 2 million hides from the US to take advantage of better quality and the cheapest price in dollar terms since the 1970’s. Meanwhile, European tanning countries are restarting their businesses, especially in key tanning countries such as France, Italy and Spain.
All China Leather Exhibition (ACLE)
This 23rd edition of ACLE is expected to present international and domestic tanneries, chemicals, machinery, footwear components and material suppliers. ACLE is an important business venue where international leather associations are competing for the market share in China. This year is particularly important for country pavilions and their members to relaunch their business after the pandemic to revitalise the nations’ economies. Hides exporting countries like CICB of Brazil and LHCA of USA have confirmed their interest in participating if travel conditions permit.
The whole supply chain for the leather and footwear manufacturing industries is also represented. World’s leading chemical suppliers such as D & R Research & Development of Colors from Portugal and Evonik Specialty Chemical of Germany have confirmed their intention to take part in ACLE and use it as a platform to launch new products and technological developments directly to their target market in China.
Tanneries such as Bader, Italpelli, Italretti, and Henan Prosper, Xinji City Meihua Leather, Jinan Luri Junda Leather from China have also confirmed their participation. ACLE is also an important networking platform with conferences, seminars and trend events, that are all related to the global, Chinese and ASEAN leather sectors. More details of these on-site events will be published soon on www.aclechina.com.
ACLE will celebrate a milestone of the Eco-Leather mark launched by the China Leather Industry Association, with a prominent area where the award winners will display and present their products in a mini exhibition. A half-day technological and development summit and various business matching sessions will also be organised for footwear, garment and automobile material buyers.
Safety Measures to be implemented in ACLE
Following the advice of UFI’s Global Framework for Reopening Exhibitions and B2B Trade Events and procedure of the health department of the government, the organisers of ACLE are working closely with the exhibition venue (Shanghai New International Expo Center), to enforce safety measures on site.
To ensure safety of buyers and exhibitors, temperature screening equipment will be installed, masks, disinfectant gel and disposable gloves will be made available. Registration settings will also be reviewed to ensure crowd control measures are effectively implemented.
With 4 months to go and the pandemic situation improving globally and especially in China, the organisers are closely monitoring the quarantine measures and travel restrictions imposed by the governments which may affect the travelling of the exhibitors and visitors.
Comments from CLIA Chairman
APLF’s co-organiser of ACLE, the China Leather Industry Association (CLIA), has been closely monitoring the progress and return to activity of that country’s leather industry. CLIA Chairman, Mr Li Yuzhong, has the following observations on the current state of China’s leather sector, consumer activity and the need for a business platform to revitalize the leather sector:
“The impact of this sudden epidemic on the world economy is huge and far-reaching, and the Chinese economy has also suffered. Up to now business and the daily life of the public have basically returned to normal. Chinese enterprises have also resumed their production and the consumer market has become more active. It is expected that there will be rapid growth in the next few months.The Chinese consumer market is making a steady recovery and in view of consumers’ recognition of online shopping and payments, brick-and-mortar establishments that sell products such as shoes, hats, bags, apparel, furniture and automobiles are actively adopting new marketing models, such as webcasting.The strong consumer market has undoubtedly boosted demand for raw materials such as leather, tanning chemicals and machinery, shoe materials and so on. In the face of new changes, new demands and new situations, Chinese leather companies are eager to find business opportunities, orders, and professional business platforms. Hence, ACLE, which will be held in Shanghai in September, will be the major platform for the industry to gather and exchange opinions.I hope the epidemic situation in our fellow countries can be brought under control as soon as possible, and I look forward to meeting our overseas and local industry friends in Shanghai this September!”
For more information, contact info@aplf.com.