Space sold at Asian trade fairs in 2017 grows faster than forecast

Paris/Hong Kong, 9th August: UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, released the 14th edition of its Trade Fair Industry in Asia annual report, covering 17 markets including Greater China and Southeast Asian markets, Japan, Korea, India, Pakistan, Australia, Cambodia and Myanmar. The report provides complete data on these regions up to 31st December 2017, with additional figures and commentary on likely trends for the following year.

In terms of net space sold, there was an average increase of 7% at Asian exhibitions, reaching 22 million m2. More than half of the total net space sold was in China (58%), totalling 13 million m2, which is over six times the amount of space sold in Japan, Asia’s second largest trade fair market (two million m2).

Cambodia was the fastest growing small market, with net space sold up by 28%, while India was the fastest growing large market, up 11% from 1.07 million m2 to 1.18 million m2. Several other large markets reported less significant growth. Net space sold expanded by 5.1% in Australia and 4% in Taiwan.

According to the Trade Fair Industry in Asia annual report’s forecast, by the end of 2018, the venue capacity in Asia will reach over nine million m2 and the number of venues operating in Asia will increase to 230. In 2019, the opening of a new venue in Shenzhen, China, will add 400,000 m2 of gross indoor capacity to the regional total causing this figure to rise again.

The 14th edition Trade Fair Industry in Asia annual report provides detailed information on the development of trade fairs and supporting facilities in 17 markets: Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam. The report also includes analysis on actual market performance in 2017 as well as forecasts and commentary on key trends in each market.

For more information on this report, please contact UFI in Asia at: asia@ufi.org