...and that “APLF was generally regarded as a success”, according to World Leather’s Leather Pipeline.

Also important was that “as far as visitors are concerned, the quality has generally gone up” and the influential SauerReport summed up the background to APLF 2016 by writing, “The reasons are varied and complex with reduced demand from China and Russia, high retail inventories following mild winters and the ongoing substitution of leather with non-leather materials are all having an impact on the market.”

International Leather Maker (ILM) also reached the same conclusion as reflected in its headline “APLF reflects a mixed leather market” and noted that demand for footwear leather is lagging behind 2014 – a common conclusion at the fair. But then continues with the sharp observation:

“Demand for exotics also remains positive but only reflects low production volumes and a small niche element of the total market. In fact, one high-end exotic leather exhibitor told ILM that they had sold all the samples on their stand on day two to a single buyer. They had to go back to their local warehouse to restock the stand!”

“A number of countries use the APLF exhibition as a major showcase for their latest leather trends as it remains the most international fair in the industry with a truly global mix of buyers and sellers.”

This observation by ILM is mirrored in the APLF statistics as the fair attracted 1,064 exhibitors from 48 countries and regions as well as more than 16,000 professional buyers from 86 countries and regions once again proving the international status of APLF as the Meeting Place for the Global Leather Industry.

APLF, Hong Kong
(05/05/2016)