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Furniture China 2009 -- 'Huge Buyer Demand Met the Industry in China'

UBM Asia Limited
2009-09-28 18:43 661

HONG KONG, Sept. 28 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Furniture China 2009, one of the top three furniture exhibitions in the world, was successfully held from 9-12 September 2009 in Shanghai, China. Organised by Shanghai UBM Sinoexpo International Exhibition Co. Ltd, UBM Asia's joint-venture company in Shanghai, and the China National Furniture Association, the fair expanded its total floor space to 400,000 square metres to accommodate 1,906 exhibitors, including 125 overseas exhibitors from 22 countries & regions, an increase of 12.7% compared with last year. 61,057 visitors from 160 countries or regions visited the fair. The opening was attended by the 10 biggest participating countries and received wide media coverage in more than 60 countries.

Professional buyers from all over the world

As the must-attended furniture exhibition, Furniture China 2009 drew visitors from 160 countries and regions, 10 countries more than last year. The top 20 visitor countries/regions were: Australia, the USA, Hong Kong, Japan, Canada, Taiwan, Malaysia, India, the UK, France, Korea, Italy, Singapore, Russia, Thailand, Germany, Vietnam, Spain, the Netherlands and New Zealand. More than 42% of the overseas visitors came from Asian countries (including the Middle East), 26% from Europe, 14% from North America, 10% from Oceania, 4% from Latin America, 3% from Africa and another 1% from the rest of the world. Such geographical diversity and spread of visitors underlined the importance of Furniture China for the global furniture industry. 14,852 overseas visitors made their special trips to Shanghai for visiting Furniture China 2009, which has 9.2% increase compared with the 13,600 overseas visitors of last year.

Exhibitors reported receiving huge buying interest at Furniture China. 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 coming 2010 season, and to brace for the projected surge in post-recessionary demand. International exhibitors also reported strong Chinese demand for medium-to-high end overseas-made furniture.

Better Quality, More Buyers, Multiple Attractions & Commendations

Having garnered great renown and high repute as a foremost international furniture trade show over the last 15 years, Furniture China strengthened its unique advantages and introduced new arrangements to the fair.

Each exhibition hall was given a clear product focus -- whether furniture for the home or the office, for the kitchen, living room or the outdoors, furnishings and decoration, and even components and furniture woodworking machinery. The rattan furniture, baby furniture and premium home furniture areas, newly introduced in 2009, presented themselves in sophisticated stand design with multiple high quality exhibitors and enjoyed good market reception.

At the same time, the organisers also upgraded onsite services, such as providing more VIP lounges and visitor rest areas, increasing the frequency of shuttle buses, and offering complimentary refreshments at closing time to exhibitors and buyers.

"Wider Selection" will be the mandate for the coming years at Furniture China. Mr Wang Mingliang, Managing Director of UBM Sinoexpo and Vice President of the China National Furniture Association, promised to introduce more quality design and wider product selections to Furniture China.

Danish Trade Commissioner, Dr. Mette Knudsen was surprised to see high-quality products from all over the world at Furniture China and intended to introduce Scandinavian furniture design and interior professions to the show. "The Chinese people love Scandinavian design -- it is time to introduce a greater array of quality products in Furniture China," He said. Other consulates and trade offices from Germany, France, Italy, Canada and the USA complimented the show for its good selection of medium and high-quality products, the excellent stand designs, and its huge attraction to domestic and overseas visitors.

Chinese furniture market exhibits strength despite difficulties

2009 is a challenging year for the global economy, and the Chinese furniture industry experienced unprecedented difficulties. According to the China National Furniture Association, between January to July 2009, there was a 9.45% decline in furniture exports. However, with the government's policies "to maintain growth, expand domestic demand, and readjust the industry structure" and through determined industry-wide efforts, the Chinese furniture industry is beginning to show signs of recovery. The domestic market is brisk and production increased 8.4% in the first two quarters compared with the year before.

The financial crisis has forced the Chinese furniture industry into a transition period which has brought an accelerated pace in industry consolidation and restructuring. Being an 'evergreen' industry, it is expected to bounce back even more vigorously with an extended phase of healthy and steady development.

Outlook -- Furniture China 2010

Furniture China 2010 will be held from September 7 - 10, 2010 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. Even before the 2009 event is over, overseas exhibitors this year from Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Spain, the UK, the USA and Vietnam have all registered for exhibition stands in 2010. Brazil, Canada, Denmark, the Philippines, Spain, Turkey and Vietnam have already contacted the organisers to organise country pavilions. The 2010 event is expected to grow in tandem with the expansion of the Shanghai New International Expo Centre which will add another two new exhibition halls with over 25,000 square metres of gross indoor space.

The new sections for rattan and baby furniture introduced this year will be expanded and Furniture China will have more quality selections ready.

Downloadable format of the press release is available at UBM Asia's website at: http://www.ubmasia.com

Notes to Editor

About UBM Asia Limited ( http://www.ubmasia.com )

Owned by United Business Media Limited (UBM) listed on the London Stock Exchange, UBM Asia operates in 13 market sectors with headquarters in Hong Kong. We have over 130 media products in three categories: trade fairs, print and B2B portals. As Asia's leading exhibition organiser and the biggest commercial organiser in the two fastest growing markets in Asia: China and India, we stage the leading events of their kind across Asia. Our 110 events attract an annual attendance of 30,000 quality exhibitors and 1,270,000 visitors from all over the world to meet their target business partners face-to-face for business matching and networking. We publish high-quality trade publications for 191,000 industry professionals to capture the market trends and industry news. Complementing our exhibitions and publications are round-the-clock and industry-specific online B2B portals which provide a series of online trading networks, industry news hub and sourcing and marketing platforms for the world's trade buyers and suppliers. We have over 650 staff in 16 major cities in Asia.

About United Business Media Limited ( http://www.ubm.com )

United Business Media focuses on two principal activities: worldwide information distribution, targeting and monitoring; and, the development and monetisation of B2B communities and markets. UBM's businesses inform markets and serve professional commercial communities -- from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewellery traders, from farmers to pharmacists -- with integrated events, online, print and business information products. Our 6,500 staff in more than 30 countries are organised into specialist teams that serve these communities, bringing buyers and sellers together, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently.

For press enquiries, please contact:

Jennifer Law

Director of Communications

UBM Asia

Tel: +852-2516-1691

Fax: +852-3749-7342

Email: jenniferlaw@cmpasia.com

Source: UBM Asia Limited
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