Relief as ACLE goes ahead

Following a difficult year for the international leather industry, many people in the trade were relieved to be doing business again at a major exhibition in Asia. Following the cancellation of the APLF in both April and June due to the SARS virus, as well as the postponement of several other shows in the region, the latest edition of the All China Leather Fair (ACLE) was the first major opportunity for the sector to meet for several months. The sixth edition of the ACLE took place in a new location and was combined with the China International Footwear Fair (CIFF) and Moda Shanghai in the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) in the fashionable Pudong area of Shanghai. The show is coorganised by APLF Ltd and the China Leather Industry Association (CLIA). Exhibition space booked was up by 13% (19% more companies) compared with last year and the number of visitors rose to 12,400 from 56 countries and regions. 'This is the first exhibition that we have been able to put on in mainland China since the lifting of SARS restrictions', Michael Duck, director, APLF Ltd, told Leather International. 'This show is the first opportunity for a while to see some of our customers. It is important to gauge the mood of the market and discuss future prices and shipments of raw materials from our suppliers', said Victor Bai, sales manger, of Chinese wool-on tanners, Henan Prosper. 'We feel that we are seeing more visitors here because the APLF didn't happen this spring.' Alongside significant international pavilions from Spain, Pakistan, France, South Korea, Brazil, Germany, India, the USA and Germany were a significant number of Asian leather making machinery manufacturers. They were mostly from mainland China, Taiwan and South Korea and a number of splitting, ironing and embossing, milling and buffing machines were observed. One machinery manufacturer, Sun Home, said that they had received firm orders for six machines during the show. A total of 586 companies took part in the show. The next edition of the ACLE is due to take place in the same venue from September 1-3, 2004.