This month marks the biggest-ever edition of Asiafruit Magazine – a bumper issue to mark what promises to be another bumper show for ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA and Asiafruit Congress. It may seem like a daunting task producing a magazine of such large proportions, but we had no problems filling the pages, so great is the volume of news pouring forth from the world’s fastest growing market for fresh fruit and vegetables, and so strong is the interest among global suppliers and buyers vying for a share of the trade.
Many of them will be out in force at ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA and Asiafruit Congress. Australia, whose exports have enjoyed a strong showing in Asia this year, has expanded its pavilion by a third. Other key trading nations such as the US, China, France and Holland have also beefed up their presence while Chile and Brazil are making their debut appearances – and our TRADE CHILE Special brings you in-depth coverage of the country’s growing focus on Asia. These are just a few of the 30 nations that will be represented among the 200-plus exhibitors. They will meet with trade visitors from across the world looking to source new products, meet new customers and find out where the market is moving.
Visitors to the show will find plenty on offer. From a consumer market perspective, most Asian nations have weathered the economic crisis well and present excellent marketing opportunities. China and Vietnam are two good examples profiled in the magazine. Asia’s aspirational consumers are trading up in their produce purchases, a trend revealed by the rising demand for products such as seedless grapes, cherries and organics. And the region’s growing modern retail trade is a great place to capture these shoppers – as our interviews with senior buyers from ParknShop, Tops and NTUC Fairprice show. Asia also holds big sourcing potential, and this edition provides a flavour of the myriad of products on offer, from staples like Chinese apples through Thai exotics and Vietnamese dragon fruit to newer lines like pomegranate arils from India. Indeed, opportunities abound on both sides. Of course there are challenges to overcome and there is a lot to learn, and the Asiafruit Congress plays a key role as a forum to debate the big issues.
Asia is vast, vibrant and diverse – a bit like the latest edition of Asiafruit Magazine – so part of the challenge is knowing where to start. I hope I’ve given you some guidance on the edition, and that the trade show provides you with the pathway to the markets – those that commit to them are bound to reap the benefits.
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