The All China Leather Exhibition 2005 (ACLE), was held in Shanghai, 7-9 September.  It was established in 1998 to serve China's vibrant leather sector, the largest in the world.  The exhibition is widely acknowledged as being the primary leather event in China, with the highest degree of international participation.  

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According to statistics, industrial enterprises in the leather industry (all state-owned enterprises and non state-owned enterprises involved in leather items with annual sales incomes of over RMB 5 million, approximately US$620,000) achieved total industrial output of RMB 246.5 billion in the first half of this year, an increase of 24% compared to the same period of the previous year. Sales income generated by these enterprises was RMB 229.6 billion, a growth of 26%.

Imports and exports of China's primary leather products maintained their growth. Exports reached USD 8.2 billion in the first half of this year, up 17.4% over the same period of the previous year. Import value amounted to US$2.5 billion, an increase of 6.3% over that of last year.

Footwear exports amounted to USD8.47billion, up 24% over that of last year. Footwear imports were USD96.95 million, an increase of 73.9%.  The growth rate of imports was faster than that of exports. 

In the first half of this year, the value of China's imported raw materials, finished leather and leather garments also achieved rapid growth, illustrating that domestic demand for such products is quite strong. Functioning as connecting bonds, ACLE, CIFF and Moda Shanghai 2005 will once again build up an information exchange platform for both domestic and international leather companies to promote their cooperation in leather industry. 

To cater for the 1,088 exhibitors - of which almost two-thirds are from overseas - the organisers have added a whopping 20 percent extra floor space over last year (which was itself a record).