Why Southeast Asia is a Strategic Battleground for Chinese Leather Enterprises in Overseas Expansion?
Duration:
Mar 12 - 14, 2025
Location:
HONG KONG, CHINA
On March 14, 2025, the 41st Asia Pacific Leather Fair (APLF) concluded at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. As a global gathering for the leather industry, the event featured three major exhibition zones: APLF Leather, Materials+, and Fashion Access, showcasing products across leather, leather goods, bags, apparel, footwear, cashmere, and fashion accessories. Over 700 exhibitors from 24 countries, including key leather-producing nations like Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, and Italy, participated in the event.
Hong Kong: A Gateway for Global Leather Trade
As a thriving Asian commercial hub, Hong Kong’s economy is growing at three times the pace of traditional Western markets. Its strategic location makes it the preferred gateway for Chinese exporters targeting Asia-Pacific (especially ASEAN), Europe, the U.S., and the Middle East. The city’s dynamic market environment and free trade advantages offer unparalleled opportunities for leather, footwear, and accessory industries.
APLF vs. Intertextile Shanghai: Strategic Choices
A Dongguan-based apparel accessories exhibitor shared insights: “We’ve attended APLF for years. While subsidies are limited, its value lies in global exposure. Both APLF and Intertextile Shanghai are critical for international expansion, but they serve different purposes.”
Product Focus: Intertextile leans toward home textiles and furnishings, while APLF emphasizes raw hides, finished leather, footwear materials, luxury accessories, and technical innovations.
Cost Efficiency: Intertextile offers lower costs for participation, logistics, and travel.
Global Reach: APLF leverages Hong Kong’s geographic and trade advantages to attract buyers from Europe, the U.S., and Southeast Asia.
For Chinese leather and accessory enterprises, Hong Kong is not just a springboard into global markets but also a strategic platform to acquire industry resources and elevate brand competitiveness. Amid rising trade barriers, Hong Kong’s openness and professionalism remain irreplaceable.
Industry Growth: Data-Driven Insights
From January to October 2024, China’s leather exports totaled $76.32 billion, a slight 4.3% year-on-year decline. However, this outperformed global peers: Italy’s exports fell 6.8%, and India’s dropped 9.2%. China retained its position as the world’s largest leather exporter, driven by:
High-Value Shifts: Eco-friendly leather exports surged 12%, with innovations like Zhejiang’s “coffee ground recycled leather” securing multimillion-dollar orders.
Domestic Policy Boost: China’s “trade-in” policy spurred leather home furnishings demand.
RCEP Synergy: Tariff reductions under RCEP strengthened supply chain integration with Southeast Asia.
Leather demand is rising in footwear, fashion accessories, automotive interiors, and home decor, particularly in Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia.
Synthetic Leather: Buyers Prioritize Functionality
Global buyers now prioritize wear resistance, waterproofing, and softness—the “golden triangle” of functional attributes. Chinese innovators are leading the charge:
Fujian’s graphene-reinforced synthetic leather offers 3x higher wear resistance, used in premium snow expedition gear (prices up 20%).
Zhejiang’s breathable waterproof leather balances water resistance with airflow, ideal for outdoor furniture.
Guangdong’s “cloud-step” shoe materials blend softness with structural support, targeting luxury markets.
Materials+ Spotlight: Sustainability and Circular Economy
The Materials+ zone highlighted sustainable fashion accessories, with 70% of consumers willing to pay more for eco-friendly products. Exhibitors showcased natural materials, recycled fabrics, and green manufacturing solutions. Challenges remain: nearly half of brands struggle to source innovative sustainable materials.
Made-in-China.com Bridges Global Buyers and Suppliers
At APLF, Made-in-China.com (MIC International Station) connected over 300 buyers from Italy, India, Vietnam, Thailand, and Russia, with strong interest in eco-friendly recycled leather and lightweight automotive leather. The platform hosted seminars on 2025 industry trends, procurement efficiency, and risk reduction, attended by nearly 100 exhibitors and buyers. An Indian buyer even showcased product pages of Chinese suppliers sourced via Made-in-China.com.
Hong Kong: A Gateway for Global Leather Trade
As a thriving Asian commercial hub, Hong Kong’s economy is growing at three times the pace of traditional Western markets. Its strategic location makes it the preferred gateway for Chinese exporters targeting Asia-Pacific (especially ASEAN), Europe, the U.S., and the Middle East. The city’s dynamic market environment and free trade advantages offer unparalleled opportunities for leather, footwear, and accessory industries.
APLF vs. Intertextile Shanghai: Strategic Choices
A Dongguan-based apparel accessories exhibitor shared insights: “We’ve attended APLF for years. While subsidies are limited, its value lies in global exposure. Both APLF and Intertextile Shanghai are critical for international expansion, but they serve different purposes.”
Product Focus: Intertextile leans toward home textiles and furnishings, while APLF emphasizes raw hides, finished leather, footwear materials, luxury accessories, and technical innovations.
Cost Efficiency: Intertextile offers lower costs for participation, logistics, and travel.
Global Reach: APLF leverages Hong Kong’s geographic and trade advantages to attract buyers from Europe, the U.S., and Southeast Asia.
For Chinese leather and accessory enterprises, Hong Kong is not just a springboard into global markets but also a strategic platform to acquire industry resources and elevate brand competitiveness. Amid rising trade barriers, Hong Kong’s openness and professionalism remain irreplaceable.
Industry Growth: Data-Driven Insights
From January to October 2024, China’s leather exports totaled $76.32 billion, a slight 4.3% year-on-year decline. However, this outperformed global peers: Italy’s exports fell 6.8%, and India’s dropped 9.2%. China retained its position as the world’s largest leather exporter, driven by:
High-Value Shifts: Eco-friendly leather exports surged 12%, with innovations like Zhejiang’s “coffee ground recycled leather” securing multimillion-dollar orders.
Domestic Policy Boost: China’s “trade-in” policy spurred leather home furnishings demand.
RCEP Synergy: Tariff reductions under RCEP strengthened supply chain integration with Southeast Asia.
Leather demand is rising in footwear, fashion accessories, automotive interiors, and home decor, particularly in Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia.
Synthetic Leather: Buyers Prioritize Functionality
Global buyers now prioritize wear resistance, waterproofing, and softness—the “golden triangle” of functional attributes. Chinese innovators are leading the charge:
Fujian’s graphene-reinforced synthetic leather offers 3x higher wear resistance, used in premium snow expedition gear (prices up 20%).
Zhejiang’s breathable waterproof leather balances water resistance with airflow, ideal for outdoor furniture.
Guangdong’s “cloud-step” shoe materials blend softness with structural support, targeting luxury markets.
Materials+ Spotlight: Sustainability and Circular Economy
The Materials+ zone highlighted sustainable fashion accessories, with 70% of consumers willing to pay more for eco-friendly products. Exhibitors showcased natural materials, recycled fabrics, and green manufacturing solutions. Challenges remain: nearly half of brands struggle to source innovative sustainable materials.
Made-in-China.com Bridges Global Buyers and Suppliers
At APLF, Made-in-China.com (MIC International Station) connected over 300 buyers from Italy, India, Vietnam, Thailand, and Russia, with strong interest in eco-friendly recycled leather and lightweight automotive leather. The platform hosted seminars on 2025 industry trends, procurement efficiency, and risk reduction, attended by nearly 100 exhibitors and buyers. An Indian buyer even showcased product pages of Chinese suppliers sourced via Made-in-China.com.