The Hong Kong International Jewellery Show 2006 concluded today (March 9) attracted a total of 29,246 buyers, which is 9.3% more than last year.
The Show recorded an across-the-board increase in the number of buyers from different countries and region, including those from Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland, as well as from the US, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, India, Australia, the Philippines, Korea and Italy.
According to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the fair organiser, buyer attendance of the jewellery show is as follows:
Buyers from places outside Hong Kong - 16,062, up 10.9% and accounted for 55% of the total Buyers from Hong Kong - 13,184, up 7.5% and accounted for 45% of the total
According to an independent industry survey conducted by Oracle Added Value during the Show, industry players are very optimistic on jewellery exports in 2006.
A total of 466 exhibitors and 731 buyers from around the world at the Show were interviewed. 90% of the respondents said the global jewellery market in 2006 would be better than or same as in 2005. Hong Kong's jewellery exports surged for 23% last year.
Respondents said jewellery exports this year would be fuelled by the growth in global economy and the emergence of in-fashion design.
70% of the interviewed buyers are bullish on the mainland market. They expect the mainland's jewellery retail market to grow by over 20%.
40% of the interviewed buyers said the rise in gold price would not affect their orders at the show. Only 15% of them were worried that the rise in gold price would eat into their margin.
The surge in gold price does not affect exhibitors. Jewellery manufacturers said they would switch to use silver, platinum and karat gold to replace gold in design and manufacturing.
72% of the exhibitors and 65% of the buyers expect gold price to increase in 2006 by 6-7%.
Hong Kong International Jewellery Show 2006 is one of the most established jewellery trade fairs in Asia. A record-breaking number of 1,970 exhibitors from 41 countries participated at the show. The next Jewellery Show will extend into a five-day event and will be held from March 6-10, 2007 at Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre
Blame it on the economy, the war in Iraq or the high price of gold: no matter which way buyers and retailers look at the situation, global jewellery market sales have slid, with just a couple of exceptions, according to a number of top buyers and retailers. Nowhere has this trend been more evident than at the JCK Las Vegas 2006 jewellery show, held from 4th to 7th June at the Venetian Hotel Resort and Casino.
