Attendance up 4.2% at Furniture China show
By Thomas Russell -- Furniture Today, October 5, 2009
Shanghai, China — Boasting its largest show yet, Furniture China here reported an increase in visitors, spurring hopes for a rebound in sales to both domestic and international buyers.
Officials said the Sept. 9–12 show attracted 61,057 visitors from 160 countries, up 4.2% from the 58,582 from 150 countries reported in 2008.
Of the total, 14,852 were from overseas, up 9.2% from the 13,600 international visitors last year.
Of the international visitors, about 14% or just over 2,000 came from North America, while 42% came from Asia and 26% came from Europe. The United States and Canada were among the top 20 international countries in attendance.
The figures signal an upturn in what has a sluggish year for the Chinese furniture industry. According to the China National Furniture Assn, China experienced a 9.45% decline in furniture exports from January through July.
However, production for the domestic industry rose 8.4% during the first two quarters, the report said. It attributed this largely to government policies aimed at maintaining growth and expanding domestic demand for durable goods such as furniture.
The Shanghai show featured some 1,906 exhibitors from 22 countries. They showed in just over 4 million square feet of space, up from 3.4 million square feet last year.
"The geographical diversity and spread of visitors mark a new milestone in the internationalization of Furniture China," officials said in the show report. "It shows that Furniture China plays a crucial role in the recovery process of the Chinese economy."
"Exhibitors reported receiving huge buying interest," the report continued. "As furniture inventories ran low in North America, Europe and other developed markets, Furniture China presented a timely opportunity to source for quality products and replenish stocks for the 2011 season, and to brace for the project surge in post-recessionary demand."
Show officials said they have begun booking space for the next show, which will be held from Sept. 7–10, 2010, at the Shanghai New International Expo Center.
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Attendance up 4.2% at Furniture China show
Sep 29, 2009
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