It has taken only 11 years for the All China Leather Exhibition (ACLE) to establish itself as the most definitive, and the most international, leather event in China's booming leather sector.
During that period the sector has not only grown to become (by far) the largest leather industry in any country, but has developed hugely in terms of delivery, quality control, and innovation. This continues to the present day, as Mainland China leather suppliers, manufacturers, chemical and machinery companies continue to help the industry move increasingly to higher-grade products.
Much of this has been instigated and assisted by overseas companies who have seen the market potential within China and have moved in to be part of this success story. Although the leather industries of some countries has suffered from this on-going development, suppliers from those countries have shown a truly entrepreneurial spirit in their efforts to develop their market in China.
Exhibitors at ACLE are showing the latest in innovation, fashion and production techniques. This really is the best opportunity for buyers from China's leather industry to acquaint themselves with the very latest innovations assembled from all over the world.
In the later part of 2007 the industry looked to be under threat as turmoil hit the financial markets. Indeed, for several months many within the industry watched with concern as raw material prices tumbled and demand for products of all sorts dried up from overseas markets.
In the event, although there was a period when market prospects looked rather bleak, confidence returned in the Spring of this year, during the APLF - MM&T exhibition in Hong Kong in late March. It is no exaggeration to say that the mood in Hong Kong proved far more buoyant than many (most?) predicted.
Perhaps that should not have been such a surprise. After all, leather is the oldest manufacturing and most sustainable industry in the world: it's had its ups and downs.
This time round it has been China's leather sector that has led the world-wide industry out of what seemed a very serious and long-lasting downturn.
There are several reasons for this up-turn. One, certainly, has been China government's policy to boost its economy by a series of financial measures designed to boost sales at the retail level. It is proving highly successful. One example demonstrates how this is working out in practice.
At the very moment that General Motors (GM) applied for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in the US, it's China joint-venture operated a massive 50% increase in sales over the same period the previous year. Indeed, China's car industry is experiencing a sales boom, it is estimated that it could reach 10 million sales this year alone, and one which looks like it will not be ending anytime soon.
This is very good news for those companies making upholstery leather because Asian car buyers generally, and Mainland China car buyers especially, prefer leather upholstery.
A car purchase is a 'big ticket' expenditure. Until earlier this year a common assumption was that the Chinese market would support an increase in sales of high-end goods, such as foreign shoes, handbags and garments, but not the 'big ticket' items. It seems this underestimated China's buying public who have trooped out to buy those high-end foreign shoes and handbags, but invested in 'big ticket' items as well.
This is proving a unique opportunity to overseas companies promoting finished goods, but also to Chinese manufactures who need to up-grade rapidly, often with raw materials, components and machinery from overseas.
ACLE WAS LAUNCHED TO PROVIDE EXACTLY THIS
In 2008 a total of 1,126 exhibiting companies from 36 countries and regions, welcomed 15,755 buyers, almost all of the latter came from Mainland China.
The exhibition is held in tandem with, and at the same location, as the China International Footwear Fair (CIFF) and Moda Shanghai. All three events are held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, from September 2 - 4, 2009, a year that started on a note of caution and uncertainty but looks like it could end as yet another bumper year.
ACLE, CIFF and Moda Shanghai are organised jointly by APLF Limited and the China Leather Industry Association (CLIA).