Record bauma China as visitors increase 33%

More than 150000 visitors attended bauma China 2010, a record for the show and 33% higher than in 2008.

Visitors came from over 165 countries, with the top ten - excluding China - being Korea, India, Japan, Russia, Malaysia, Brazil, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Australia (in that order). The show opened on Tuesday 23 November and closed today.

"The enormous growth in visitor numbers as well as the outstanding positive feedback from our exhibitors is impressive evidence that bauma China is the leading business platform for the construction industry in China and Asia," said Eugen Egetenmeir, managing director of Messe München.

"It was a complete success,", said Zhou Weidong, vice chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade - Machinery Sub-Council (CCPIT-MSC).

There was definite feeling of business optimism at the show, partly because of the prospects of continued construction growth in China.

Mr Zhang Xiuwen, chairman of Shantui, one of the largest and fastest growing Chinese manufacturers, told KHL Group that there would be "continued growth for the next five to ten years. The country is stable and the government policy [on infrastructure investment] is consistant. The demand for equipment is still very strong."

Shantui was one of the many Chinese manufacturers at the show planning to expand production capacity over the coming years. In Shantui's case, bulldozer production capacities will increase from 10000 to 15000 units by the end of 2011. The company's revenues grew by 80% in 2010 and Mr Zhang said growth in 2011 would be even greater.

The exhibition has also provided a showcase for Chinese manufacturers aiming to increase their exports, in particular to developing markets in Asia, the Middle East and Latin America.

Kenny He, vice president of Zoomlion, said the show had been "the most important platform for our globalization drive [and] also the most efficient access to the latest industrial information. We do not see bauma China only as a marketplace, but also as a channel for meeting existing customers and new contacts from India, South Asia, South America and Africa."

Of the total of 1858 exhibitors, China accounted for the highest proportion with 1124 exhibitors. Around 730 exhibitors came from outside China. The largest numbers of overseas exhibitors were from Germany (154), Italy (107) and the US (92).

Gwenne Henricks, president at Perkins Engines Company Ltd, said the show had exceeded all expectations; "Attendance at the show...is a must for all engine manufacturers and OEMs who are committed to being successful in the Chinese construction industry."

The next bauma China takes place from 27 to 30 November 2012.