In Hong Kong, fair goers seek new markets

Hong Kong Fair April 2025 (Photo courtesy of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council)

HONG KONG — Seven concurrent trade events spanning gifts, houseware, fashion, printing and packaging, and IP licensing wrapped up in Hong Kong last week, and despite global economic and trade uncertainty, reported increased buyer numbers, according to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).

Buyer numbers increased across all the exhibitions — which included the Hong Kong Gifts and Premium Fair, the Home InStyle show and the Fashion InStyle show — with 100,000 buyers from 131 countries and regions attending.

“Despite the current challenges in the global economic and trade environment, we actively attracted buyers to our fairs to enhance trade resilience and assist exhibitors in gaining a foothold in new markets such as the Middle East and ASEAN regions,” said Sophia Chong, deputy executive director of the trade council. The HKTDC’s goal is to promote cross-sector and international trade cooperation among exhibitors and reinforce Hong Kong’s position as an international trade hub.

A home decor exhibitor at the Hong Kong Fair (Photo courtesy of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council)

In a survey of exhibitors and buyers at the gift, home and fashion shows that took place, the HKTDC said it found that:

• Nearly half (49.2%) expected their overall sales would rise in the next one to two years;
• 44.5% predicted sales would remain stable;
• The biggest challenges were growing protectionist measures (45.7%), fluctuations in the global economy (43.3%) and the impact of inflation (32%)
• In the gifts and premium market, respondents believed cultural gifts (17.6%), tech gifts (17.0%) and fashion accessories (16.9%) had the most growth potential.
• In the furniture and houseware market, smart home technology (21.0%), designer furniture and houseware products (17.0%) and kitchenware and tableware (15.7%) were considered to have the most growth potential.

U.S. trade policy is compelling exhibitors to diversify their businesses and seek new customers elsewhere.

“The new U.S. tariff policies have impacted 10% of our export share, prompting us to focus more on the Asian market at this stage,” Charlotte Chui, marketing and e-commerce manager for Moral Team Holdings Ltd., which manufactures eco-friendly bags and has been a Hong Kong exhibitor for 17 years, according to the HKTDC.

“The Gifts & Premium Fair has provided us with a platform to connect with buyers from Japan, Singapore and Taiwan,” Chui said in a HKTDC release. “Our mid- to long-term plan is expanding into the Australian and European markets. The concurrent fairs have attracted interest from fashion and houseware buyers. On the first day alone, we secured several orders from the Asian market and anticipate achieving total sales of over U.S. $500,000 at the fair.”

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