Currently the number of babies and toddlers aged younger than 4 years in China is estimated at 64 million, about 5.7 percent of the Chinese population. (image:KITA)
SEOUL, July 28 (Korea Bizwire) — A score of Korean companies supplying goods for babies and toddlers have set up booth in one of the world’s largest trade shows in Shanghai.
The Korea International Trade Association said on July 24 that it took part in the 14th Shanghai Children Baby Maternity Products Expo held in the Shanghai New International Expo Center for three days between July 22 and 24 by establishing a separate Korean pavilion consisting of 53 booths from 24 participating firms. The exhibition was organized jointly with BeFe, a company specializing in baby fairs.
The Children Baby Maternity Products Expo (CBME) is one of the three biggest expositions in the world including Kind + Jugend in Cologne, Germany and ABC Kids Expo of the United States. In terms of display space (166,680 square meters), participating exhibitors (1,751 firms) and visitors (65,000), this is by far the biggest in the world.
Currently the number of babies and toddlers aged younger than 4 years in China is estimated at 64 million, about 5.7 percent of the Chinese population. The market for baby goods is 250 billion yuan (US$40.4 billion), ranking second in the world after the United States. By item, baby formulas, diapers, and baby clothing are the most important consumer items, which are sold largely in specialty shops, discount outlets, and online retailers.
Given the Chinese government’s recent announcement that it would relax the one-child policy, which is estimated to produce 2 million more babies a year, the Chinese baby goods market is predicted to grow to 600 billion yuan ($97.1 billion) by 2018, ranking the world’s largest baby goods market.
Companies like EI Corp. (baby utensils and plates), Daiichi (baby car seats), Pedora (strollers), Alzipmat (baby mats), Unimom (nursing supplies), Samantha Layette (baby fashion), and Pognae (baby outdoor clothing) participated in the event to promote their brands. Daiichi, in particular, is the only Korean company nominated for CBME Award at the exhibition.
Chang Ho-geun, KITA’s head of the overseas marketing support division, said, “In order to create a new vogue of Korean-made baby goods in China, we set up a large pavilion for Korean exhibitors. We plan to expand the size of the Korean pavilion in the following years, with more intimate services to the firms to sign more contracts in China.”
By Sean Chung (schung10@koreabizwire.com)
