All together now - All China Leather Exhibition (ACLE) 2015

There's a sense of familiarity with All China Leather Exhibition (ACLE) 2015 in terms of the venue and the people you may bump into, even though the dates had to be reshuffled due to a state sponsored holiday to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Chinese people's victory in the Second World War. But despite some predictability, market conditions fluctuated considerably over the course of the year, so there's a lot of uncertainty in the mix as well; especially this year, considering the complexity and challenges of the Chinese leather market, and the country's overall economy at the moment.

This premier affair for companies around the world to tap into China's huge market has been the main event in the leather calendar since 1998, and provides the biggest variety of leather, components and accessories, manufacturing equipment and tools, machinery and technology, and business services. The number and quality of buyers who come to the event and the diversity of international exhibitors is unmatched, and as each year adds more layers of additional attractions, like seminars, break-out sessions and social events, this year is poised to recalibrate a new standard for other shows to aspire to.

The total revenue of the Chinese leather sector achieved a growth of nearly 6.0% in the first five months of the year, and leather shoes account for over 35.0% of total industry revenue, reporting a rise of about 4.5% according to a recent report by the China National Council of Light Industry. But in the wake of Chinese shares recording the biggest one-day fall for more than eight years, leather can't pretend it's impervious to setbacks.

The BBC reported that The Shanghai Composite closed down 8.5% following weak economic data raising concerns about the health of the world's second-largest economy, adding that profits at China's industrial firms dropped 0.3% in June from a year ago, despite an impressive rally throughout the year until May. Then, in late June, a dramatic 30% fall spread panic among traders and the government, and factory activity in July saw its worst performance for 15 months.

Back on its feet

Despite the cold sweats that some might be feeling about uncertainty, CLIA chairman Su Chao-ying said in our interview (see page 27) that following a high-speed development stage, China's leather industry is now in a new development era of industrial upgrade driven by technical innovation and industrial transparency, paying more attention improving product quality, added value and design expertise.

"China is a traditional major power in leather production," he says, "and the industry is characterised by quantity in the global industry, which is indispensable with the development base of China's leather industry, division of work in the world industrial chain, market positioning, huge production capacity and other factors."

The Chinese leather industry, and the economy in which it operates, is never without its complexities, especially for international companies looking to make inroads into its vast potential. And this will come as no surprise to those making their way to Shanghai for this year's ACLE. But time will tell in terms of how recent developments -positive and negative - will influence decision-makers. Either way, optimism is high and reports indicate that everyone is looking forward to arriving in Shanghai, albeit a few days earlier than usual.

List of ACLE 2015 attendees

A+B Hides - Hall E1 Stand D03b

Aeffe Machinery - Hall E3 Stand B17c

Alpe Officine Meccaniche - Hall E3 Stand B17b

Assomac - Hall E3 Stand B20b

Auslamb Skin Exports - Hall E1 Stand E10b

Australian Hide Skin & Leather Exporters Association (AHSLEA) - Hall E1 Stand C09b

Barnini - Hall E3 Stand B18c

BASF - Hall E3 Stand D17

Boston Hides & Furs - Hall E1 Stand B05b

Buckman Laboratories (Shanghai) Chemicals - Hall E2 Stand E01

Carpetex - Hall E2 Stand E16a

Cartigliano - Hall E3 Stand B17a

Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB) - Hall E1 Stand E27

Chi Kei Chemical - Hall E2 Stand D11

Codyeco - Hall E3 Stand C09a

Cromogenia Units - Hall E2 Stand D07

CTC Shanghai - Hall E2 Stand B05a

Curtume AP Müller - Hall E1 Stand E21a

Demaksan Tannery Machines - Hall E3 Stand A01b

Donto Tannery - Hall E1 Stand E01b

Dornbusch Gravuren - Hall E2 Stand E15a

Erretre - Hall E3 Stand B20a

Etruria Manufacturing - Hall E1 Stand C02b

Favini - Hall E3 Stand E03

FGL International - Hall E2 Stand E05b

Fratelli Carlessi- Hall E3 Stand B20a

Gemata - Hall E3 Stand B18d

GG Organics Exports (GGO) - Hall E2 Stand E11b

GSC Group - Hall E2 Stand E07

Guangdong Highnic Group - Hall E3 Stand B12b

Hé Lady - Hall E2 Stand B10a

Henan Prosper Skins & Leather Enterprise - Hall E1 Stand B01

Heng Long Leather - Hall E1 Stand D07b

HEUSCH - Hall E2, Stand F02e

HJTEC International - Hall E2 Stand F01f

HY Leatherex - Hall E1 Stand F03c

Intercom - Hall E3 Stand A01f

Intertek Group - Hall E2 Stand B05b

JBS Couros - Hall E1 Stand D01

Jiaxing Hong Lin Leather Chemical - Hall E2 Stand D19a

Jinwoong Industrial - Hall E2 Stand D03

Khawaja Tanneries - Hall E1 Stand D20a

Klein Karoo International - Hall E1 Stand F01g

Korona Corporation - Hall E3 Stand C07c

Lamberti - Hall E3 Stand C11

Lanxess - Hall E2 Stand E03

Lanxess (Changzhou) - Hall E2 Stand E03

LCO Group - Hall E1 Stand F02g

Liderkoll - Hall E1 Stand E23a

Marmara Deri - Hall E1 Stand B11a

Million Mark - Hall E2 Stand C03

Minerva - Hall E1 Stand E25a

Nan Ya Plastics Corporation - Hall E3 Stand E17a

Narita - Hall E1 Stand E13b

National Beef Packing Company- Hall E1 Stand B07a

Northwoods International - Hall E1 Stand B05a

Pakistan Tanners' Association (PTA )- Hall E1 Stand D19b

Pittards - Hall E1 Stand A01a

Prime Hide - Hall E1 Stand E03b

Progressive Leathers - Hall E1 Stand D11b

Roda-Pel - Hall E1 Stand C02c

Royal Leather Industries - Hall E1 Stand D19a

Schill+Seilacher - Hall E3 booth C23

SGS-CSTC Standards Technical Services - Hall E2 Stand B06b

Shafique Leather Enterprises - Hall E1 Stand D19c

Sibel Sarl - Hall E1 Stand E18b

Siddiq Leather Works - Hall E1 Stand D21a

Smit & zoon - Hall E1 Stand B03

Soubach Special Leathers - Hall E1 Stand E20a

Stahl - Hall E3 Stand B07

Tannin Corporation - Hall E3 Stand D11

TFL - Hall E3 Stand B23

Trumpler - Hall E2 Stand E13

Turkish Leather Council - Hall E1 Stand B19b

Turner Group - Hall E3, Stand C07

US Hide Skin & Leather Association (USHSLA) - Hall E1 Stand B10b

Xinji Haiyang Leather - Hall E2 Stand C17

Yongfeng Leather - Hall E1 Stand D11c

Zschimmer & Schwarz - Hall E2 Stand D05