Established in 1998, the All China Leather Exhibition (ACLE) was created to connect China’s leather industry with Western suppliers of raw materials, chemicals, and technology. Held annually in Shanghai for 22 years, the fair faced disruptions due to the global pandemic until August 2023, when it resumed at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre in Pudong.

Despite the pandemic’s impact, the 2023 edition attracted over 1,000 exhibitors from China and abroad, setting a new record for buyer attendance. With 28,000+ buyers, including nearly 25,000 from China’s main manufacturing provinces, the event witnessed a 21% increase from previous years. This demonstrated the necessity for a business platform in China’s leather industry to cater to sourcing needs and facilitate commercial exchanges between domestic and international stakeholders. Moreover, it served as a platform to showcase technological innovations, foster existing customer relationships, and forge new contacts in a face-to-face setting during three intensive days of business activities.

Co-organised by APLF Ltd and the China Leather Industry Association (CLIA), ACLE has exhibited continued growth and resilience in navigating economic and industry challenges over its 25-year journey, firmly establishing itself as China’s premier leather-making and manufacturing event.

Background to the 2024 Event

From 2020 to 2022, international trade and business were disrupted by the global pandemic, leading to logistical and economic issues. Subsequent events such as the conflict in Ukraine, the Middle East, and the Red Sea shipping attacks, alongside ongoing tensions in the US-China trade war and the Indo-Pacific region, have hindered global trade recovery.

Despite these challenges, business leaders must consider macroeconomic factors when looking ahead to the second half of 2024 and 2025.

Macroeconomic and Leather Industry Statistics

In H1 2024, China’s economy exhibited a 5.0% GDP growth, surpassing major economies like the Euro Area, the US, and Japan, with only India growing faster.

The automotive sector, a key driver of the Chinese economy, sold 30.13 million units in 2023. This year, the sector’s growth persisted, manufacturing over 13.891 million units in H1, with sales exceeding 14.047 million, reflecting increases of 4.9% and 6.1%, respectively (Source CAAM). These figures suggest heightened demand for leather seating and interiors in the auto industry.

In the January-May period of this year, China’s furniture manufacturing sector displayed robust performance, generating a turnover of US$35.12 billion and a net profit of US$1.5 billion, marking an 18.1% increase over the same period in 2023.

According to the CLIA, in the first half of this year, although the entire industry was under pressure to move forward, the China leather industry’s revenue still grew 5.2% year-on-year. The leather, footwear, and associated sectors also performed well in the first five months of this year. Total turnover was US$44.92 billion and net profit came in at US$1.9 billion. This represents an increase of 6.4% and 6.1% respectively when compared to the same period of 2023.

Compared to H1 2023, China’s leather sector has shown significantly more positive results this year, potentially boosting activity at ACLE in September and beyond.

Leather Industry Raw Material Imports

China’s overall import volume rose with a 3.6% year-on-year increase.

• Imported 747,000 tons of raw hides bringing in an increase of 6.8% from the last year; imports amounted to USD 690 million, increased by 3.9% over the previous year.
• Imports of semi-finished leather were 310,000 tons in quantity, and USD 520 million in value, up by 23.3% and 17.4% respectively over the previous year.
• Imports of finished leather were 22,000 tones in quantity, and USD 350 million in value, up by 8.9% and 4.6% respectively over the previous year.

All figures courtesy of CLIA and may be subject to revision.

These figures underscore the improved condition of China’s leather and manufacturing industry compared to a year ago. With ACLE scheduled from September 3 to 5, the fair could contribute to this positive trend for the remainder of the year and into 2025.

ACLE 2024 – The Event

ACLE 2024 spans 8 halls covering a total exhibition area of 92,000 sqm. The event features 1,034 exhibitors, including 822 domestic and 212 international participants. 16 group pavilions from 9 countries and regions, including Australia, Brazil, China (Fuxin, Haining, Ouhai, Pingyu, Wuji, Xinji, Zhaoyuan), France, Italy, Pakistan, Spain, China – Taiwan, Thailand, and the USA, are represented.

Despite challenges posed by a delicate global economy and subdued demand within the leather industry, especially in the Euro Area, the slight uptick in exhibitor numbers from the previous year is a clear validation of ACLE’s resilience.

Onsite Events

Complementing the trade fair is a robust event agenda featuring seminars on innovative process chemicals, cutting-edge shoe machinery, emerging fashion trends, leather craftsmanship workshops, and product launches. These events aim to provide valuable information and education for both exhibitors and visitors.

The spotlight at the upcoming 2nd International Tanning Industry Executive Summit, themed “Global Vision, Grasp the Future,” set for September 3, will illuminate the ACLE event. The summit will delve into forward-looking discussions led by esteemed speakers. Keynote speaker Mr. Li Yuzhong, Vice President of the China Light Industry Federation and Chairman of CLIA, will set the stage. Country representatives from China, Brazil, France, Pakistan and the USA will share insights on the economic operation of China’s leather industry, the Brazilian leather industry’s quality and export potential, an overview of France’s leather industry, insights into the dynamics of Pakistan’s leather sector and US raw hide supply.

The event will culminate in a significant Memorandum of Understanding signing, followed by the prestigious Excellent Supplier Awards Ceremony, promising a day of thought-provoking discussions and industry recognition. For more information and registration, please visit www.aclechina.com.