China reacts to the recession

The three-day China International Hardware Show (CIHS) opened in Shanghai yesterday, 19 September 2012. Around 200 foreign firms are among the 2 400 or so exhibitors presenting their products on an exhibition area covering roughly 110 000 m2. More than 41 000 visitors are expected to attend the show (2011: 40 000), with the attendance figure on the first day already up by 17 per cent over last year, according to the organisers. Plans are in hand to expand next year’s event to two further halls each offering 20 000 m2 of exhibition floor space. The fair is being organised by Koelnmesse (Germany) and the China National Hardware Association.Key topics at the show include the efforts of Chinese manufacturers to build their own brands and raise the quality level of the products. A trend is also discernible among manufacturers of reacting to the financial crisis in Europe by turning increasingly to new up-and-coming markets such as South America, Russia and Southeast Asia.