World’s largest leather trade fair, APLF in Hong Kong leaves Brazilian suppliers satisfied

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The 2016 edition of the largest leather event in the world comes to an end leaving a very positive impression among Brazilian exhibitors. Taking place between March 30th and April 1st in Hong Kong, APLF (Asia Pacific Leather Fair) gathered 38 companies from Brazil. The group took part in the exhibition thanks to support from Brazilian Leather, project dedicated to promoting the sector in the international market and coordinated by CICB (the Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry) in partnership with Apex-Brasil (Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency).

Umberto Bastos Saccheli Neto, from Apucarana Leather, says the event was highly productive. “We had a great number of visitors, specially from buyers from Asia and Italy, which are two markets that we are very much interested in.” Elton Haubert from Courovale has also left the exhibition well pleased. “It is the most important fair within the worldwide leather sector. Taking part in APLF allows us to understand Asia’s great buying potential”, adds Neto.

Director at A. P. Müller, Cézar Müller sees with good eyes the diversity of nations that APLF tends to attract. “The event is very heterogeneous. It gathers buyers in search of all kinds of leather, from wet blue to finished articles”, he observes. Representative from Curtume Della Torre in China, Santos Jr. says he received visits from most of his clients from USA. “The event is systematically a moment to find traditional buyers. It is also an opportunity to prospect new ones”, says Santos Jr., revealing that the tannery took the moment to showcase its articles to visitors from Korea, the Philippines, Cambodia and Vietnam – alternative markets that mean a signification buying potential.

After a few years away, Curtume Santo Antonio went back to exhibit at APLF. Director Antonio Marinzek says he was surprised with the high number of people looking for hides and skins. “We had a great number of visitors in our stand, all of them with a promising business profile. We are certain that our presence in Hong Kong will generate positive results throughout the year.”

Otávio Klein from Minerva’s commercial department is also among those professionals who have APLF as a key event for the sector. “All major players within the industry showcase their products at APLF, so being in the fair is just essential in order to make yourself seen and remembered”, he says. Director at Couro do Norte, Fábio Barbosa describes APLF as the exhibition that drives everyone involved with the leather production chain. “APLF is a reference. Everyone sees the event as a market ‘thermometer’. The volume of business generated in the event tends to give us a clear idea of how sales will be throughout each year.”

In fact, Couro do Norte truly had reasons to celebrate at APLF 2016. The Brazilian company won the Tannery of The Year 2016 award, given every year by British magazine World Leather. The tannery proved to have the best product sustainability and traceability policies in a competition that involved leather manufacturers from six other countries – Iceland, India, Sweden, USA, Sudan, and China.