ITMA ASIA + CITME exhibition, a leading marketing platform for textile machinery manufacturers to be held in Shanghai, China has sold over 90 percent of the 180,000 square metres of exhibition space. The enthusiastic response for the fifth combined exhibition proves that the Chinese marketplace, with its vast hinterland, still presents great business opportunities.

Chinese exhibitors make up the biggest country group, booking over 65 per cent of the total exhibition space. The other top participating economies are Germany, Italy, Japan, Switzerland and Taiwan.

The 2016 combined exhibition is expected to feature over 1,500 domestic and international textile machinery manufacturers from over 26 economies who will showcase advanced solutions and energy efficient machinery and processes.

Mr Charles Beauduin, President of CEMATEX, said that the high level of interest from exhibitors has reaffirmed ITMA ASIA + CITME as the leading marketing platform for textile machinery manufacturers seeking to tap the China market.

They are pleased to provide exhibitors with a recognized platform for their strategic promotion and will ensure that the combined show continues to be a relevant and effective platform for sellers and buyers to transact business and to take advantage of the vast potential that China offers.

Exhibits at the combined exhibition are organized into sectors based on manufacturing processes, and spinning machinery forms the largest sector.

This is followed by finishing, knitting and weaving. In addition, the nonwovens sector has seen a 20 percent increase from the last combined show in 2014.

The vibrancy is evident as China continues to expand the infrastructure construction sector, accelerate urbanization and increase awareness of the environmental protection under the government’s 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020). It is expected that demand for technical textiles and nonwovens products will rise in the coming years.

Mr Gu Ping, Vice President of China Textile Machinery Association (CTMA), said that as China’s textile industry continues its transformation, the demand for advanced machinery and technology is on the rise.

For textile manufacturers to keep ahead of the industry, they need to readjust their strategy to enhance overall production efficiency. They should adopt a longer-term outlook to focus on the quality of their products which will ultimately contribute to their company’s bottom line. This will lead to a demand for new machinery and technology to modernize and upgrade their existing textile equipment.

The combined show is owned by CEMATEX and its Chinese partners – the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT (CCPIT-Tex), China Textile Machinery Association (CTMA) and China Exhibition Centre Group Corporation (CIEC).

It is organized by Beijing Textile Machinery International Exhibition Co Ltd and co-organised by MP Expositions Pte Ltd. The Japan Textile Machinery Association (JTMA) is a special partner of the show.

ITMA ASIA + CITME 2016 will be held from 21 to 25 October 2016 at the new National Exhibition and Convention Centre (NECC) in Shanghai. Located in the Hongqiao business district, the venue features state-of-the-art facilities and easy accessibility.