APLF: successful return to Hong Kong

A long-awaited fair that did not disappoint expectations but reflected an international leather market clearly suffering on the main markets. This in a nutshell is the balance of the 40th edition of APLF, which returned to Hong Kong after five years.
The organisers have just released the attendance figures for the event held from 19 to 21 March 2024: there were 12,000 visitors from 73 countries and regions. The top 10 countries were: China, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, USA and Vietnam. The best day was undoubtedly the first one when crowds of visitors waiting to enter the halls made the organisers and exhibitors breathe a sigh of relief, because in fact nobody knew for sure how the first time in Hong Kong after the pandemic would go.
APLF, on the other hand, proved to still work, managing to attract top players from the world’s major markets and relaunching itself as a global platform. As always, however, trade fairs mirror the market and even the Hong Kong marketplace today has to contend with a leather market in great difficulty in the main markets due to weak demand, particularly for footwear and leather goods.
Although a decrease compared to the last edition in 2019, the offer on show was decidedly important with 740 exhibitors including almost 500 in the two halls dedicated to the Leather section now located on level 3 of the Convention Center. Also significant is the presence of no less than 18 national pavilions including Australia, Brazil, China, France, Japan, Korea, India, Italy, Mexico, Pakistan, Portugal, Spain, Thailand, Turkey and the United States. Noteworthy was the Italian presence with the large collective of tanners (UNIC) and tannery mechanics and tanning chemists (ASSOMAC).
The next edition of APLF is scheduled from 12 to 14 March 2025.