Yarn Expo saw 501 suppliers from 14 countries and regions while France was among the first timer at the show. What is significant is that almost 80 per cent of exhibitors were returning from successful past editions, showing their support to the Yarn Expo Autumn 2018 which was held concurrently with ITMA ASIA + CITME from October 15 to 17 in Shanghai.
The international diversification, as well as strong domestic numbers, demonstrated Yarn Expo’s increasing recognition as a top show in the industry. The fair is organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) and the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT.
“Although Yarn Expo was unable to be held concurrently with Intertextile Apparel this year, more industry players recognise this fair as a top show for yarn and this is why the turnout remained very strong,” explained Wendy Wen, senior general manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK). “Our product range was more diverse than ever as exhibitors increasingly see China as the ideal market to introduce their latest innovations. For example, this year we’ve welcomed premium French linen and advanced Italian chemical fibres. Yarn Expo is a platform that promises to gather all of the top suppliers under one roof for genuine buyers.”
With demand rising within the Chinese market for fancy and speciality yarns, suitable for stand-out fashion trends, the trade potential for this product category was high. Business for eco-friendly and natural yarns was also reported to remain steady this edition, reflected by the India Pavilion which increased in size by around 40 per cent this year.
“We are using Yarn Expo as a platform for brand exposure. We have a very good feeling about the demand for premium products in China. Yarn Expo has many more quality visitors in comparison to other fairs. We have had a very positive experience and will certainly return,” Hervé Denoyelle, business development manager, Safilin, France, said.
“The participation in the India Pavilion has been quite good this year, all of the leading Indian companies are here and we are occupying much more space. It’s important to be here, the fair reflects market demand, and everybody comes here twice a year. We see a lot of potential growth in China,” Dr Siddhartha Rajagopal, executive director, Texprocil (India Pavilion organisers), said.
“Yarn Expo is a very good platform for maintaining relationships with existing customers and we are very happy with that. Yarn Expo is the biggest yarn fair in the world now. Buyers from all over the world come to this exhibition,” Neeraj Gupta, from Indo-Rama Synthetics, Indonesia, said.
“Compared with other similar fairs, Yarn Expo is a more professional industry platform and the buyers here are very diverse and of high quality, so we can meet many potential clients here. We’ve received many orders – especially orders from Chinese buyers, which is very inspiring and we always think the China market has great potential,” Xuan Cuu Do, trade director, Hanam Textile Company, Vietnam, said.
Buyers also gave a positive view of the fair. “This is our first time at Yarn Expo, and we are here to explore the market and see what innovation is here. I have found a lot of new potential contacts. Yarn Expo is one of the top yarn and fibre shows in the world, so it attracts good quality suppliers. The VIP buyer programme has been very helpful; it’s convenient to have meetings set up for me with exhibitors offering what I’m looking for,” Shashidhar Padmanabh Jha, manager of Raw Material Development and Sourcing, MAS Intimates, Sri Lanka, said.
“Yarn Expo is good in terms of organisation, it’s easy to find each booth, it’s well organised into product groups and countries. I visit every year, and Yarn Expo helps me to meet all of my existing suppliers – they all come here. I can also meet new yarn suppliers. I think that this is the number one fair for yarn, and many of my peers agree,” Andy Chu, World Knits, Mauritius, said.
“Yarn Expo is a good platform for maintaining our business relationships – they’re all here, I can find all of them in the same place, it’s convenient. Yarn Expo is better in comparison to other fairs because it attracts all of the biggest suppliers,” Felipe Bertani, AKA Shanghai Trading, China, added.
Yarn Expo Autumn is Asia’s leading trade platform for the yarn and fibre industry, with quality suppliers from around the world showcasing natural and blended yarns including cotton, wool, flax, and man-made fibres and yarns, as well as speciality products including elastic, fancy and blended yarns. Last year’s Autumn Edition attracted 493 exhibitors from 13 countries and regions and 17,185 trade buyers from 84 countries and regions.
