The organizer of the China International Tire Expo, CITExpo for short, views this year’s tire show in Shanghai positively.
Reliable International Exhibition Services reports 7,190 visitors attended the ninth CITExpo, which was held at the Everbright Convention and Exhibition Center. Last year’s show attracted 7,400 visitors. Once again, around 60% of visitors (4,160) came from China, and during the three show days in early September 3,030 international visitors from 103 countries registered. A total of 298 companies used CITExpo to present their products and services to the public, up from 290 the year before.
Well-known exhibitors at this year’s show included Cooper Chengshan, Jinyu Tire Group/Evergreen, Guizhou Tyre, Techking Tires, Aufine Group, SD International, Van den Ban and the wheel producer Zhejiang Jingu; these companies occupied 22,000 square meters of floor space in three almost completely booked out exhibition halls.
As Reliable managing director Wilko Fong explained to Tyres & Accessories, “all participants reported a good experience” at this year’s show, and the organizer anticipates numerous exhibitors and visitors next year. For the 10th CITExpo in 2012, more than 180 companies have already confirmed their bookings; their booked stands occupy a floor space equal to 80%of this year’s area. The organizer is pleased to report that two and a half of the three available halls are already booked out. Thus the next exhibition, which will be held from Sept.12-14, 2012, looks likely to be larger than this year’s show.
CITExpo has grown considerably since 2003 and today is one of Asia’s leading tire exhibitions. Only “Reifen China,” which takes place in Shanghai this November and is an offshoot of the enormous German “Reifen” show, attracts more visitors; last year 9,300 visitors went through the turnstyles, however only 100 exhibitors were present. In comparison CITExpo – an independent, privately organized exhibition – has acquired a reputation over the years as being a first class show free from excessive hype, a place where buyers and sellers can simply meet.
In addition, CITExpo serves as a good barometer for the needs of international tire markets. Some two or three years ago, OTR tires were still a central focus for many exhibitors, however today these “made in China” tires have little chance of success with international customers.
Therefore the products on display at CITExpo have changed. In place of these OTR tires are passenger car tires – a market segment that has, along with alloy wheels, developed into a pillar of CITExpo. This year it seemed as if every fifth exhibitor was involved in the wheel business, and polished metal surfaces shimmered everywhere in all three exhibition halls.
In addition, this year many companies also exhibited their truck tires at CITExpo; however high costs discouraged most of these companies from switching over to the PAH-free oils needed for producing tires intended for export to Europe. “Here the exhibitors show exactly what the market demands,” Fong explains. As a result, CITExpo and its exhibitors always accurately portray current developments within the international tire market, something that – as Fong added – is a secret of the Shanghai show’s success. (Tyres & Accessories)
