The fifth Reifen China exhibition, which took place in the Shanghai New International Exhibition Center on Nov. 22-24, reportedly "registered a plus in all the sections," according to show organizers Messe Essen and the China United Rubber Corp. 
Official figures released by the two companies show that 11,255 trade visitors (20% more than in the previous year) from 77 countries were present to order and obtain information about everything to do with tires, wheels and garage equipment at the trade fair.
In fact the latest figures show that 124 exhibitors (up 9%) from 12 countries showed what their product ranges had to offer. In addition, the trade fair’s attendance was bigger than ever before apparently with more leading tire manufacturers that before, covering 12,000 square meters (21% more than in the previous year).
According to the show organizers, these figures emphasize that Reifen China is “firmly established in the Asian market as an important ordering and information platform; within just a few years, it has developed into an indispensable date for the sector.”
Combined initial figures for both Reifen China and RubberTech, which is run in parallel in neighboring halls, show that 5,512 visitors attended the opening day of the show compared with 4,300 in 2010. More than a fifth were said to have been “international” visitors.
Exhibits appear to have been mainly dominated by large and medium sized Chinese and Taiwan-based tire manufacturers with the addition of relatively small tiremakers, wheel firms and equipment manufacturers also in attendance. Some well-known names in attendance included: Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co., Double Coin Holdings, Shandong Linglong, Cooper Chengshan Shangdong Co., Nankang Rubber Tire Corp., Shandong Wanda Boto Tyre, Guizhou Tyre Co. and Shandong Hengfeng Rubber & Plastics Co., to name but a few.
Despite the healthy amount of floor space covered by this year’s show – and indeed perhaps because of it – anecdotally visitors can’t help noticing that there appears to be less footfall than in previous years.
One exhibitor Tyres & Accessories spoke to suggested that this could possibly be explained due to a kind of show fatigue in the domestic tire market here with at least four exhibitions a year in China, including two annual shows in Shanghai itself. Seeking to distinguish their show in the competitive market environment, Reifen China’s organizers (Messe Essen) pre-empted any potential slow down with “the successive launch of many promotional activities such as exhibits preview, online virtual booth, bulletin e-newsletters and more.”
Whatever happens next, there clearly is demand for a tire exhibition here in China. Indeed, off the top of my head I can think of four that are running annually. However, the long-expected competition for which show will last into the medium and long-term future appears to be hotting up.
One not-so secret weapon Reifen China continues to have in its favor is the popular (and thematically related) RubberTech sister show that continues to run in parallel in a neighboring hall at the Shanghai New International Exhibition Centre. These synergetic effects were once again guaranteed by Rubber Tech China and there are no signs of this or the other successes reported stopping any time soon. (Tyres & Accessories)
