|
The Guangzhou International Lighting Fair - scheduled for 8 - 11 June 2008 - will feature a special LED hall for the first time in 2008. With energy-savings and environmental-friendliness at the forefront of China's agenda, the LED market is growing fast, achieving a growth rate of 18% in 2005. With their low energy consumption, longer life-spans and a vast array of applications, LEDs are gaining popularity, and China's demand for product choice and information on new technology is high. Considering this industry attention and focus on the development and application of LEDs, one hall at the Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition will be completely dedicated to LEDs in 2008. Suppliers of these products will be grouped together and the special zone will be marketed as an added attraction for buyers.
In 2006, sales of lighting products in China reached a value of just under US$15 billion, a 23% rise from 2005. Demand for lighting products is growing in tandem with the booming construction industry. The development of infrastructure and facilities for the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai and other events such as the Guangzhou Asian Games are a major factor, as is the country's rapid urbanisation. The World bank predicts that half of the world's building and construction will take place in China by the year 2015, and by 2020, 60% of Chinese citizens will be living in urban areas, and housing floor space will reach 69 billion square metres.
In China's consumer markets, people are becoming more aware of international trends, styles and concepts in interior design. They start to demand a higher-quality of product, both in terms of look and function. For this reason, overseas manufacturers are finding more and more customers in China, and import of lighting products is increasing every year.
In industrial and commercial properties, the same thing is happening. Property developers and building owners - especially those with A-Grade 'intelligent' buildings - are increasingly willing and to spend more time and money on stylish, quality light fittings, fixtures and systems which use cutting-edge technology and controls.
Since China joined the WTO, import tariff on lighting products have been reduced. This, coupled with the growing demand, and created a strong rise in imports over the past few years. In 2006, China imported lighting products to the value of US$1.75 billion - 37% more than in 2005.
www.light-building.messefrankfurt.com
|
|