March 2014 sees the return of two prominent home textile shows held during China’s peak spring sourcing period. Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Spring Edition will take place from 3rd–5th March 2014 at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center. Following this fair, Intertextile Guangzhou Hometextile China will run from 18 – 22 March 2014 at the China Import and Export Fair Complex.
The favourable domestic market conditions currently found in China provide numerous opportunities for international exhibitors. Increasing urbanisation, an expanding property market – residential real estate sales grew by 35.7% from January to August 2013 – and rising household incomes have led to strong demand for premium, high-quality home textile and lifestyle products from overseas. According to the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Textile and Apparel (CCCT), imports of bedding increased by 7.2% from January to August 2013 compared to the same period in 2012, curtains by 16.5% and blankets by 9.2%.
These conditions are most evident in Shanghai, China’s most international city. Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Spring Edition is the must-see domestic home textiles fair in China during the spring sourcing season. Last year’s 316 exhibitors was a 13% increase compared to 2012, while 11,294 buyers visited the fair – a 10% rise. A large proportion of these buyers are domestic, and there is a growing demand for premium products.
The 2014 fair will also take place concurrently with Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition for the first time – a move that was well-received by the industry. This co-location will attract buyers from a wider section of the textile industry, providing more opportunities for exhibitors. The apparel fabrics show also offers a large fringe programme that is highly appreciated by visitors.
Last year, Intertextile Guangzhou Hometextile China attracted 25,729 buyers from 97 countries and regions, which represented a nearly 22% increase on the previous year. There was also an 8% rise in exhibitor participation to 218. In 2014, exhibitors can benefit from the extra visitor flow that three concurrent fairs – China International Outdoor & Leisure Fair, Homedecor & Housewares China and China International Furniture Fair (Guangzhou) – will create. Of particular benefit for Intertextile Guangzhou participants will be the International Furniture Fair, with exhibitors of this fair likely to be sourcing upholstery fabrics while at the fairground.
Opportunities also abound in Guangdong Province, which is one of the major furniture manufacturing and trading hubs in the country. According to the Guangdong Furniture Chamber of Commerce and the Guangdong Furniture Industry Institute, the region accounted for 30% of China’s total furniture exports as of May 2013. In this same month alone, furniture output topped 9.6 million units, while the cumulative output for the first five months of the year was over 44 million units.
In addition to the two spring shows, the Autumn Edition of Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles will take place from 27-29th August 2014 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. The 2013 fair attracted 39,189 buyers from 97 countries and regions, and 1,321 exhibitors from 31 countries and regions.
The Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles Spring and Autumn Editions are organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd; the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT; and the China Home Textile Association (CHTA).
Intertextile Guangzhou Hometextile China is organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd; the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT; the China Home Textile Association (CHTA); and the China Foreign Trade Guangzhou Exhibition Corporation.
Together these three shows meet the needs of the domestic industry in terms of timing, location and product range, providing an ideal platform for overseas suppliers across the whole home textiles industry to enter the Chinese market.
