CITExpo reports a positive show

The organiser of the China International Tire Expo, CITExpo for short, views this year’s tyre 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 per cent 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 metres of floorspace 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 organiser anticipates numerous exhibitors and visitors next year. For the tenth CITExpo in 2012, more than 180 companies have already confirmed their bookings; their booked stands occupy a floorspace equal to 80 per cent of this year’s area. The organiser 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 12 to 14 September 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 tyre 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 organised 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 tyre markets. Some two or three years ago, OTR tyres were still a central focus for many exhibitors, however today these “made in China” tyres have little chance of success with international customers. Therefore the products on display at CITExpo have changed. In place of these OTR tyres are passenger car tyres – 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 tyres at CITExpo; however high costs discouraged most of these companies from switching over to the PAH-free oils needed for producing tyres intended for export to Europe. “Here the exhibitors show exactly what the market demands,” Wilko Fong explains. As a result,  CITExpo and its exhibitors always accurately portrays current developments within the international tyre market, something that – as Fong added – is a secret of the Shanghai show’s success.