Events

ACLE 2026 records all-time high in visits

Oct 1, 2026 China

The 26th All China Leather Exhibition (ACLE) attracted more than 34,000 visitors during its three-day run in Shanghai, setting a new attendance record for the event, according to the organisers

Taking place between the 1^st and the 3^rdof September at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, ACLE 2026 brought together over 900 exhibitors from more than 30 countries and regions across eight exhibition halls. The exhibits covered raw hides and skins, semi-finished and finished leather, chemicals, machinery, components, footwear materials, and manufacturing technologies.

According to the post-show figures, attendance increased by 5.7% compared to last year’s edition and by 44.7% compared to the last edition held before the start of the pandemic in 2019. The organisers also reported an average visitor satisfaction score of 9.15 out of 10.

This turnout occurred despite the challenging market conditions currently facing the leather industry, including weak demand, inflation, geopolitical tensions and uncertainty surrounding tariffs and trade conditions.

The ACLE report highlighted ongoing challenges for China’s leather and footwear industries during the first half of 2026. Sales among major tanning companies fell by 12.8% year-on-year, while imports of raw hides and skins rose by 7% year-on-year to 749,000 tonnes. In the footwear sector, sales among major companies declined by 6.1% year-on-year, with the production of leather footwear falling by 7.6% to 970 million pairs.

During the event, discussions reflected a growing focus on sustainability, traceability, and regulatory compliance, as well as technical performance, production efficiency, and digitalisation. AI also emerged as a key theme, with the potential applications of AI in material selection and product development being demonstrated by various tools.

Additionally, it was noticeable that suppliers' development capabilities are becoming an increasingly important factor in sourcing decisions.

“The market remains challenging, but ACLE 2026 showed an industry continuing to source, invest and adapt. The opportunity is increasingly shifting from supplying more to supplying better – with clearer provenance, stronger performance, greater efficiency and a more direct connection to market needs”, said the organisation.

The next edition will take place in Shanghai from the 1^st to the 3^rd of September 2027.

Image Credits: aclechina.com

China Events Footwear Leather Trade fairs