The seven fairs organised in April by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) set new exhibitor and buyer records. Collectively, the fairs welcomed more than 11,000 exhibitors (6,907 from overseas) and 221,000 buyers (126,000 from overseas).
Buyer attendance from Asia surged 7.5 per cent, year-on-year, with the Chinese mainland, India, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam recording considerable increases. Buyers from North America and Europe showed positive sentiment and recorded good growth at the lighting fair, ICT Expo, gift fair and printing fair.
Economic Boost
According to Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association estimates, each international exhibitor and international exhibition visitor spent, on average, HK$8,800 and HK$11,000 respectively. Counting overseas fair visitors and assuming that each exhibitor sent two representatives to Hong Kong, the seven fairs brought in more than HK$1.5 billion to Hong Kong. The total does not include business orders and revenue from relevant commercial and trade support, such as accounting, legal and financial services.
HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Benjamin Chau said that the fairs made significant contributions to the Hong Kong economy. “The enlarged scale of the fairs increased business opportunities for the exhibition industry, as well as for the exhibitors and buyers. More business was also generated in industries such as logistics, security, marketing, translation, hotels, and food and beverage.”
Surveys Reveal Market Optimism
The HKTDC commissioned Ipsos, an independent market research agency, to conduct surveys during the lighting, electronics, houseware, and gift fairs. A total of 1,053 exhibitors and 1,712 buyers were interviewed.
“The results are a vote of confidence in Hong Kong’s exhibition industry,” said Mr Chau. He noted that 78 per cent of the buyers interviewed contacted new suppliers during the fairs, while 88 per cent of the exhibitors met new buyers during the fairs, up from 75 per cent last year. “The survey also found that 90 per cent of the respondents expect this year’s market to perform better or the same as last year, suggesting that the global economy will gradually recover and that the market is positive about prospects in the coming year,” added Mr Chau.
Other survey findings included:
Individual Industry Results
Industry | Trends |
Lighting | LED products are being boosted by tighter environmental standards, which are helping to drive technology advancement, and retail price decreases. Products with the highest growth prospects in 2014: LED and green lighting, commercial lighting and household lighting |
Electronics | Sales of tablet computers and smartphones continue to dominate the market, especially the high-end products. This is spurring demand for mobile battery chargers, Bluetooth speakers, protective covers and other accessories. There is also good market potential for 3D printers, with demand coming largely from Asia. Products with the highest growth prospects in 2014: mobile devices and accessories, electronics/electrical accessories, and audio-visual |
Houseware | Products with the highest growth prospects in 2014: kitchenware, home decorations and general houseware items |
Gifts and Premiums | Environmentally friendly and advanced technology gifts are the most sought after. Products with the highest growth prospects in 2014: advertising gifts premiums, green gifts and tech gifts |
Small-Order Trend
The surveys also found that buyers continue to adopt the small-quantity sourcing model. The Small-Order Zone set up by the HKTDC during the April trade fairs attracted 84,000 buyer visits, up over 30 per cent, year-on-year, generating 140,000 business connections.
“Since its inception in April 2012, the Small-Order Zone at HKTDC fairs has helped about 5,000 suppliers capture new business opportunities, creating over 400,000 business connections,” said Mr Chau. The HKTDC’s Small-Order Zone online, also launched in April 2012, has generated over 694,000 business connections. Online instant payment is now available.
Seven Fairs
The Council’s seven April trade fairs were: the Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Spring Edition), Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition), International ICT Expo, Hong Kong Houseware Fair, Hong Kong International Home Textiles & Furnishings Fair, Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, and Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair.
Media Enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC's Corporate Communication Department:
Joe Kainz
Tel: (852) 2584 4216
Email: joe.kainz@hktdc.org
