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Vinexpo Asia-Pacific is expecting a +50% increase in exhibitors for its 2014 show, six months ahead of the doors opening |
HONG KONG. International wine and spirits exhibition Vinexpo Asia-Pacific has increased its total area for stands by +50% ahead of its sixth show, which is taking place in Hong Kong from 27 to 29 May 2014.
To date, 87% of the total 1,500sq m (161,500sq ft) exhibition space has been sold with the number of stand sites exceeding total floor area of 2012’s show, which attracted 1,050 exhibitors from 28 countries.
Amongst those wishing to exhibit in 2014, organisers say there’s a growing demand from non-French exhibitors including Southern Europe, the New World as well as from the spirits sector. Non-French exhibitors have reserved nearly +40% more stand space than in 2012 – 6,500sq m compared to 3,810sq m – with Italy and Spain increasing their presence the most.
German exhibitors outnumber participants from Argentina, Chile, Australia, South Africa and China. French exhibitors, meanwhile, have slightly increased their reservations of stand space to 5,555sq m from 5,150sq m in 2012 – an increase of +9%.
Commenting on the growth and demand from non-French participants, Vinexpo Asia-Pacific Chief Executive Guillaume Deglise said: “Our exhibitors know very well that by being present at Vinexpo Asia-Pacific they are visible at the very heart of the whole Asia Pacific market. The exhibition is obviously a way of gaining direct access to China, but it also raises exhibitors’ profiles in all the emerging markets of Southeast Asia. We need to bear in mind that 40% of the wine consumed in Asia is drunk outside China.”
In terms of visitors, the 2012 exposition attracted nearly 16,000 visitors with the majority coming from Hong Kong and mainland China as well as other countries in Asia Pacific including Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Macao, India, Thailand, Australia and Malaysia.
In the whole of Asia, 3.6 billion bottles of wine were consumed in 2012 with the region accounting for 61.5% of the world’s spirits consumption. Chinese demand is expected to pick up once distribution agreements have been confirmed.
Hong Kong is the ideal venue for the conference as it has become the hub of trade and distribution of wine throughout Asia-Pacific since the removal of the payment of duty on wines from February 2008. In 2012, wine imports from all points of origin into Hong Kong were valued at €316.3 million, according to Vinexpo and The IWSR world market survey.
The 2014 show will also include events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Franco-Chinese diplomatic relations.
The list of all the exhibitors can be found on the Vinexpo Asia-Pacific website.
