Shanghai, November 2023. From 6 – 8 March 2024, the Spring Edition of Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles will make its much-anticipated return to the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. Showcasing sought-after home textile products, encompassing everything from floor to ceiling, exhibitors will be well-prepared to capture buyers’ attention during China’s traditional peak sourcing season. Suppliers can further benefit from a wider visitor scope, with many buyers crossing over from the co-located fairs Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition, Yarn Expo Spring, CHIC, and PH Value. The comprehensive textile platform provides key opportunities for industry players to connect and explore new possibilities.
While the growth rate of the global economy remains slow, the domestic market in China has shown promising figures after the Chinese government implemented measures to encourage household consumption. These include providing support to both the home industry and consumers, to develop sustainable, intelligent and healthy living environments. Loan procedures for home refurnishing and funding for related industry sectors have also been optimised. Against this backdrop, for the first eight months of 2023, China Customs recorded a 7% year-on-year increase in consumables retail sales, reaching a total of RMB 3 billion (around USD 410 million). Homing in on the textile sector, profitability is regaining momentum, driven by both the local market and the success of international trade agreements such as Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
Echoing the market sentiment, Ms Rosemary Li, Domestic Sales Manager of Zhangjiagang Coolist Life Technology Co Ltd, said at the 2023 spring fair: “After China eased its control measures, we have clearly noticed changes in the industry. Both our domestic and export orders have increased, and we are struggling to meet the demand with our production capacity. From what I have experienced, the recovery of the domestic home textile industry has been relatively fast. Our clients are mostly concentrated in the home textile sector, and they have been doing good business this year too.”
The previous edition also provided an opportunity for international buyers to re-engage with Chinese suppliers. “This is my first time visiting Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles since the pandemic started,” said Mr Mihail Tornea, Commercial Director for Mezanin-V SRL, a buyer from Moldova. “We have been sourcing fabrics for home and contract products, and found six almost-confirmed suppliers. We are aiming to spend USD 3 million on Chinese textile products this year. Thanks to China reopening, we can source products of better quality, quantity, and price.”
Ms Wilmet Shea, General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, was also optimistic about the industry’s prospects when announcing the opening of the 2024 spring fair: “After three years of challenging times, we were thrilled with the remarkable outcomes of the 2023 textile fairs – the strong attendee turnout was further proof of the textile industry’s resilience. With this in mind, as the organiser we are committed to providing another vital platform for the industry to find potential business.”
Across three days, the 2023 spring edition attracted 26,538 trade visitors and 283 exhibitors from five countries and regions. The upcoming fair in March will showcase a full range of home textiles to meet buyers’ needs, including bedding & towelling, rugs, table & kitchen linen, home textile technologies, textile design, and many more. Exhibitors, meanwhile, are set to benefit from the concurrent textile fairs, with the apparel fabrics, yarns and fibres on offer to attract additional segments of the textile value chain, and facilitate sourcing on a wider scale.
Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Spring Edition is organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd; the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT; and the China Home Textile Association (CHTA).
