Nearly 700 delegates attending the 3rd World Leather Congress one day before the fair and more than 22 500 professional visitors passed through the 8 halls during the 3-day trade fair, a steady flow of visitors according to ACLE. 1 081 exhibitors participated in this 2017 event comprising both international and domestic exhibitors.

According to the organizers, despite a very slight drop in visitors from Mainland China, the total number of visitors was in line with last year. An increase in the number of buyers from ASEAN countries such as Taiwan, Indonesia, and in particular Vietnam, Japan and Korea was registered.

“The number of buyers travelling to Shanghai to source leather and meet new suppliers highlights the importance of ACLE as a business platform for the surrounding manufacturing regions”, said the organization in a press release highlighting the importance of this event as a platform to serve both China and ASEAN.

According to the same source, a 25%-30% decline in leather prices since APLF (held by the end of last March) was translated in bargain hunting activities and this facilitated negotiation between the tanneries and raw material suppliers as well as chemicals companies.

ACLE exhibitors especially chemical companies confirmed to be satisfied with the “lively business being done with the Chinese buyers” and some described it as a “productive fair”.