Shanghai, December 2023. After welcoming back more international faces in 2023, Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Autumn Edition is quickly re-establishing its advanced position as a hub to connect industry players from both inside and outside of Asia. Looking ahead, the stage will be set once again at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) next year, allowing exhibitors and buyers from the industry to match their trading needs onsite. Thanks to the resumption of global travel and the ongoing industry recovery, the next Autumn edition is slated to attract even more multinational fairgoers and diverse home and contract textile collections. The fair will return in 14 – 16 August 2024.
A recent study showed a significant rise in corporate travel in 2023, driven largely by the resurgence of live business events and the easing of restrictions following several turbulent years. Adding to this, the Chinese government has announced several measures in a bid to attract more international visitors, including a simplified visa application process as the latest initiative.
As one of the largest economies in the world, China is renowned for producing high-value products across the home textile spectrum, making Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles an essential stop for global suppliers and buyers aiming to kick off the next business season.
Mr Tong Xu, Chairman of SR Hometextile Co Ltd, China, a company that exhibited alongside the British brand ‘Prestigious Textiles’ shared his observation at the 2023 show: “The visitor flow at this edition has exceeded our expectations. But what surprised us most is the high number of foreign buyers onsite. We met with many customers from the Middle East, Southeast Asia and other regions yesterday, so I think the influence of the show is still strong.”
Elaborating on the attention that the previous edition received, Ms Wilmet Shea, General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, expressed: “We welcomed over 32,000 trade visitors in August across the 100,000 sqm fairground, marking a nearly 60% increase compared to the previous edition. The diverse origins of fair participants were remarkable, with trade buyers traveling from 101 nations and regions crossing paths with 1,035 exhibitors from 13 counties and regions. At the next edition, we will continue to expand our reach to emerging markets, allowing more premium products to shine through at this international gathering point.”
More markets to discover via the global platform
A returning Japanese exhibitor, Mr Chen Zhang, Manager of Textile Depo Co Ltd expressed during the previous fair: “Participating in this fair is beneficial for our business, as it allows us to connect with new customers each time we exhibit. On the first day we were already in talks with 22 clients for new deals. Besides local buyers, we also received enquiries from visitors from Thailand, Vietnam and other countries.”
Emerging markets have become a significant focus for the industry in recent years. China’s exports of home textiles to the ASEAN market amounted to around USD 2.09 billion in the first quarter of 2023, with an increase of 18% year-on-year; of which around USD 1.38 billion was exported in finished goods, seeing a rise of over 42% year-on-year. With this growth in trade, buyers from fast growing emerging markets are expected to increasingly benefit from the Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles platform to fulfil their sourcing needs.
The upcoming Autumn edition will continue to comprise a wide range of home textile products, including bedding & towelling, rugs, table & kitchen linen, upholstery & curtain fabrics, editors, home textile technologies and textile design.
Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Autumn Edition is organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd; the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT; and the China Home Textile Association (CHTA).
