ACLE is firmly established as the premier international leather event in China. Since inception in 1998 it's role is to introduce overseas companies to China's booming leather industry. There is an ever-growing list of those who used ACLE, CIFF and Moda Shanghai to introduce themselves and their products to Chinese buyers.

Despite turbulence in financial markets all indications suggest that the international leather market remains strong, and will continue buoyant. Moreover, China's domestic market for leather and leather products continues developing both in volume, and with a marked trend towards higher product quality.

Exhibitors
Today, over 900 confirmed.

Group Pavilions
Today, participation of 22 group pavilions, from 16 countries and regions, have been confirmed.

Those confirmed include Australia, Brazil, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Pakistan, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and the USA.

Two new pavilions have been confirmed: one from Egypt (who are appearing also for the first time at APLF this year), and from the Taiwan Synthetic Leather Association.

Buyers
15,279 buyers attended ACLE, CIFF and Moda Shanghai in 2007.

Chemical companies well represented
APLF interviewed 47 chemical companies who have exhibited at ACLE. The issue was to determine what effect, if any, they were experiencing following the introduction of new (stricter) environmental regulations in China.

Generally, the larger and established chemical companies didn't suffer any adverse impact. The tanneries most affected were small tanneries which had never been their targeted customers.

A majority (57%) of interviewed companies reported either business as usual, or a minimal affect only. Some (30%) said their sales have decreased. Others, European chemical exhibitors in particular, were more concerned about the weak value of the US dollar.

Big Boost for CIFF Exhibitors
The import of leather shoes into China, aimed at China's rapidly expanding middle class of affluent buyers has risen massively in the past three years. This opening is not lost on European and South American manufacturers of up-market footwear. Brazil, for example, is gearing up for an industry-wide assault on the Chinese domestic market. The import figures released by China Leather Industry Association (CLIA) speak for themselves. The numbers indicate also the healthy growth of leather and fur garments, and travelware.