ALL CHINA LEATHER EXHIBITION - ACLE

About the fair

The All China Leather Exhibition (ACLE, also known as the Shanghai Leather Fair) is the definitive and only international leather exhibition in China. Organized by the China Leather Industry Association (CLIA) and APLF Limited, it is the key event for international companies seeking opportunities in China's vast markets — the focal point of the global leather industry. Since its founding in 1998, ACLE has welcomed hundreds of thousands of buyers from mainland China's leather and leather-goods provinces. China leads the world in producing leather and in demand for hides and skins, leather chemicals and leather goods; it is the undisputed footwear-export leader with a 40% market share and a top importer of automotive and upholstery leather. ACLE targets China's leather (raw-material) industries that supply raw hides and skins, leather semi-finished goods, leather chemicals and equipment for producing finished leather for footwear, leather goods and automotive upholstery, and also hosts international tanneries promoting their products to domestic importers.

Manufacturers making what this fair covers

Factories in our directory whose product lines match this fair. Worth contacting before you book the trip — or instead of it.

Planning the trip

• Register the badge online. Every major fair issues visitor badges in advance, and on-site registration means queueing on the busiest morning of the show. Registration usually opens one to two months out.
• Check the visa position early. China's entry rules have changed repeatedly in recent years, including visa-free arrangements for a growing list of countries and transit exemptions. Confirm what applies to your passport for this month, and ask the organiser for an invitation letter if a business visa is needed — issuing one is routine.
• Book accommodation before the dates firm up. A large fair fills its host city and rates move accordingly. Cancellable bookings made early cost less than confirmed ones made late.
• Decide which halls before you arrive. The bigger Chinese fairs run to several halls across separate phases, and walking them without a plan burns a day. Shortlist the stands you need and treat anything else as a bonus.
• Plan the follow-up, not just the visit. Business cards collected at a fair convert poorly once you fly home: quotes arrive in patchy English, samples stall, and the time difference eats a day per exchange. Deciding who handles that before you travel is what makes the trip pay for itself.