PCHi defies downturn with an increase in visitor and exhibitor numbers

Early figures indicate that China's PCHi 2010 expo, which drew to a close on Friday, managed to attract higher visitor numbers than last year's event.

There were 4,300 pre registered visitors for the Shanghai-based personal care and home care ingredients show and although pre registration numbers were higher at 2009's event in Guangzhou (5,000,) Jason Li, project manager of organizer Reed Sinopharm's PCHi & Expolab department told cosmeticsbusiness.com that over 3,700 unique visitors had attended PCHi 2010 on the first two days alone, and that visitor figures were expected to top those of last year, if only by a fraction. In addition, the show featured 194 exhibitors compared to 168 in 2009.

Organizers were also pleased with the volume of international exhibitors; over 48% of those companies exhibiting were from outside of China, including 20% from Europe. "Asia for us is probably the most strategic market as it is the market that is growing the fastest and still has tremendous growth potential. China is particularly important to us," noted Eduardo de Purgly, managing director of exhibitor Thor Personal Care.

PCHi 2010, which took place from 10-12 March, was located at Shanghai's Everbright Convention Centre. But Instead of returning to Guangzhou in 2011 as usual, the event will be held in Shenzhen, another major city in the Guangdong province which is accessible to the many suppliers and manufacturers whose facilities are based in the region. According to Li, this new location is a one-off and the show will continue to alternate between Shanghai and Guangzhou in future years.