HONG KONG/PRNewswire/ -- The State Council of the central government of the People's Republic of China declared the days 3 - 5 September 2015 as national holidays to commemorate the 70^th anniversary of the Chinese people's victory in the Anti-Japanese War and the World Anti-Fascist War.

As this public holiday would overlap with the originally planned dates of ACLE 2015, the Organisers, following consultation with the Chinese Government and the market,have moved the dates of ACLE 2015 to 31 August - 2 September (Monday - Wednesday).

The aim was to prevent any disruption of the fair and guarantee the opportunity to the thousands of Chinese buyers who will attend this event to source supplies for their upcoming collections on normal working days and at the same time cater to the needs of the exhibitors participating at ACLE.

Despite a slowing economy, China is still the hub of the world leather industry producing billions of pairs of leather shoes and leather goods per year. To do this, the China leather industry needs to import leather of all types. According to the latest report by the China Leather Industry Association (CLIA), China has imported a total of US$8.24 billion of leather of all types in 2014 (raw hides, crust, wet blue and finished).

In a digital presentation in December 2014, Chairman of the CLIA, Su Chaoying, stated that China's leather industry would process 200 million hides in 2015 of which half, 100 million, would have to be imported. These huge numbers offer western companies multiple opportunities to do excellent business with the China leather sector.

ACLE, as the leading leather fair in Mainland China, offers international companies access to more than 23,000 Chinese buyers from the main leather manufacturing provinces of the country. They come to ACLE to find new suppliers and source new products.

ACLE is the only leather event in Mainland China where so many buyers gather and can be seen under one roof during the three days of the exhibition. The dynamics of ACLE are reflected in its ongoing success since its first edition in 1998 and with more than 1,300 exhibitors, the range of leathers and chemical products plus machinery represent the whole supply chain of the leather making process.

Compared to previous years ACLE will be held in a challenging market environment as China's government continues to enforce strict environmental regulations for polluting industries with the aim of protecting the health and well-being of inhabitants living near industrial clusters and tanneries.

The 18^th edition of ACLE will once again reflect the international nature of the leather industry with the presence of 20 national/regional pavilions confirmed so far including Australia, Brazil, Mainland China, Ethiopia, France,Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Pakistan, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey and USA.

Spain, represented by its tannery association Acexpiel, has increased its participation by 10% as have the Brazilian association -- the CICB and Assintecal. After its resounding success as Focus Country at APLF 2015,France has boosted its participation by 50% and the USA, in its USHSLA pavilion, will take 7.7% more space.

These major pavilions will be joined by at least 26 new exhibitors from various countries/regions as they seek to penetrate into China's market that requires supplies and raw materials to feed its massive production lines.

As the leading commercial and business platform for the leather industry in Mainland China, ACLE has kept pace with the times and changes in the rapid and dynamic expansion of the leather sector in China this century.

To quote APLF Director, Michael Duck, on this point: "Just as ACLE has successfully kept pace with the expansion of China's leather and technological demands this century, it will continue to reflect the changing and sometimes challenging market and economic conditions in China. At the same time ACLE will continue to offer a wide range of international suppliers to China's footwear and leather goods manufacturers as well as and the booming automotive seating sector."

With China being the world's biggest auto market by far, selling more than 23 million vehicles in 2014, 40% of which have some form of leather upholstery. This amounts to a great deal of hides and finished leather -- and this is without even mentioning the billions of pairs of leather shoes and leather goods produced in the country.

In 2014, leather sector exports totalled USD88.9 billion -- an increase of 7.2% over 2013. Imports of leather of all types, leather footwear, components, etc. to supply China's leather industry grew by a solid 10.7% in 2014,reaching a record total figure of USD9.4 billion. Such growth is evidenced in the report on the 2014 results by the Chairman of the joint organisers of ACLE, the China Leather Industry Association (CLIA), Mr Su Chaoying. Mr Sureported that sales revenue from China's leather sector in 2014 grew by 9.1% when compared to 2013.

These phenomenal figures for China's leather sector are also reflected in the number of leather shoes manufactured in China in 2014 which totalled 4.5 billion pairs (the combined population of the European Union, the USA and Canada is less than one billion inhabitants!) and China actually exported 10.7 billion pairs of shoes of all kinds with a value of USD53.8 billion (or +11.8% more in value terms) when compared to 2013.

Despite stories and commentaries that production of footwear is being relocated in other Asian countries, there is no doubt that China manufacturing capacity and infrastructure as well as its expertise in contract manufacturing will ensure that it remains the world's most important production base for footwear of all types.

This is why ACLE is so important for the 1,300 exhibitors to make key contacts and consolidate business relationships as world footwear demand will continue to grow if only due to population demographics over the coming decade.

There are many influential VIP buyers invited specially to the event and who have access to the comfort of the VIP Buyers Lounge. Although there is a predominance of buyers from Mainland China, attendance is very international as many footwear brands and multinational companies source and produce in China and have their local sourcing teams attending the fair.

What Participants said about the 2014 ACLE event...

Exhibitors quotes:

Rick Bentley, Director of Marketing, Sappi Warren, USA
"We have seen a lot of traffic from all the different sectors and regions, especially from South East Asia and thePacific Rim. There was a good, well rounded presence from across Asia."

Larry Liu, President, 3D bio-chem, China
"Leather is one of the main applications of our 'anywhere application' biocide and mildewcide products. We participate in ACLE to get visibility."

Pim Wilgenburg, Product Manager, Smit and Zoon, Netherland
"It is a nice hub to have our customers, our agents and our own people interact."

Hunter Tait, Managing director, Tasman, New Zealand
"We have been participating in ACLE for the past 10 years. It perfectly suits our needs. It is convenient and successful."

Adnan Alak, Atacan, Turkey
"We have had some trials orders which we are hopeful will materialise."

Buyers quotes:

Qi SongHe, Hong Ye Chemicals, China
"This is the largest exhibition in China. Both the atmosphere and services are highly satisfactory, which help me a lot in terms of seeking business partners. I am here mainly for cowhides and chemical dyes, both of which can be found here at the exhibition and it is very likely I will place orders."

Li WeiQiang, Leather Materials Specialist, The Well Leatherware Mfy. Ltd, China
"I have found many chemical raw materials here, which are very constructive to our production. Handcraft and machinery technology are very advanced too, and better priced than I have seen in other countries."

Ceng BoHui, Associate General Manager, Quan Feng Chemical, China
"I can feel that the fair is growing year after year with a comprehensive variety of materials and customers from various industries, allowing me to meet some old customers. Generally the fair is well-organised, the service is professional and the exhibitors totally fit our needs."

Notes to editors

About All China Leather Exhibition (ACLE)

The All China Leather Exhibition is generally accepted as the premier event for international companies seeking opportunities in China's huge and, (for a short period remaining - perhaps!) still under-supplied, market.

With some 17 years' experience no other event in the China leather sector provides a comparable opportunity for overseas companies to meet and greet, face-to-face, with potential Chinese partners, customers and suppliers.

Held annually in Shanghai, in early autumn, ACLE provides the largest variety of leather, components and accessories, manufacturing equipment, tools, machinery, technology, and business services. There is a full programme of seminars and presentations, both off- and on-site, and a recently introduced a 24/7 'virtual' exhibition keeps the event open from one year to the next.

In 2014, 1,300+ exhibitors from 36 countries and regions, were present. The forthcoming 2015 event is on track to match these numbers.

APLF's partner in this prestigious event is China's only official recognised leather sector organisation, the China Leather Industry Association.

Registered visitors can enter 3 exhibitions and attend all the conference, seminars, and attractions - visitwww.aclechina.com for more information.

About the Organisers

ACLE is organised jointly by the China Leather Industry Association (CLIA) and APLF Ltd.

CLIA is the only officially recognised representative body for China's vast and successful leather industry. CLIA has at its disposal the largest and most comprehensive databases of leather makers and manufacturers of finished products, suppliers and buyers.

APLF Ltd is a joint venture between SIC Group and UBM Asia. For over two decades, Hong Kong-based APLF Ltd has been providing the global leather and fashion industries with its most important meeting and trading place.

About UBM Asia (www.ubmasia.com)

Owned by UBM plc listed on the London Stock Exchange, UBM Asia is Asia's leading exhibition organiser and the biggest commercial organiser in mainland China, India and Malaysia. Established with its headquarters inHong Kong and subsidiary companies across Asia and in the US, UBM Asia has a strong global presence in 25 major cities with 29 offices and over 1,200 staff.

With a track record spanning over 30 years, UBM Asia operates in 19 market sectors with 160 dynamic face-to-face exhibitions, 75 high-level professional conferences, 28 targeted trade publications, 18 round-the-clock vertical portals and virtual event services for over 1,000,000 quality exhibitors, visitors, conference delegates, advertisers and subscribers from all over the world. We provide a one-stop diversified global service for high-value business matching, quality market news and online trading networks.

UBM Asia has extensive office networks in China, Southeast Asia and India, three of the world's fastest growing B2B events markets. UBM China has 11 offices in the major cities in mainland China, including Beijing,Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Chengdu and Shenzhen, where we organise more than 60 exhibitions and conferences. In ASEAN, UBM Asia operates from its offices in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnamand the Philippines with over 50 events in this region. UBM India teams in Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore,Chennai and Hyderabad organise 20 exhibitions and 60 conferences every year across the country.

About UBM plc (www.ubm.com)

UBM plc is a leading global business media company. We inform markets and bring the world's buyers and sellers together at events, online, in print and provide them with the information they need to do business successfully. Our 6,500 staff in more than 30 countries are organised into specialist teams which serve commercial and professional communities, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently.

For fair details, please contact:

Ms Perrine Ardouin, Director - Fashion Team
Email: [email protected]

For media enquiries, please contact:

Mr Eddie Fung, Marketing Manager
Email: [email protected]

Ms Chi-On Kwok, Assistant Marketing Communications Manager
Email: [email protected]

APLF Limited
17/F China Resources Building
26 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Tel: +852-2827-6211
Fax: +852-2827-7831
Website: www.aplf.com / www.aclechina.com

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