The ITMA ASIA + CITME 2024, a prominent textile machinery exhibition in the region, concluded successfully after a five-day event that took place from October 14 to 18, 2024, at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre (NECC) in Shanghai. The exhibition attracted approximately 90,000 visitors from 111 countries and regions, with a significant 87% of attendees coming from China. Local participation was robust, with visitors hailing from 31 provinces and cities, including Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Guangdong, Shandong, Fujian, Hebei, Henan, Anhui, and Hubei. This strong turnout highlights the vibrant textile industry in these areas and the keen interest in emerging trends in textile machinery.
In terms of international attendance, India led the list of overseas visitors, followed by South Korea, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Iran. The show’s organisers—CEMATEX, the Sub-Council of Textile Industry (CCPIT), the China Textile Machinery Association (CTMA), and the China International Exhibition Centre Group Corporation (CIEC)—reported high satisfaction levels among exhibitors regarding their participation outcomes.
Exhibitors expressed positive sentiments about their experiences. Federico Businaro from Sperotto Rimar noted that ITMA ASIA + CITME continues to be a pivotal exhibition for engaging with the expansive Chinese market, stating that they encountered numerous contacts and promising sales prospects. Similarly, Rick Stanford, Vice President of Global Business Development at Baldwin Technology Company, described their participation as highly beneficial, emphasising the excellent quality of local visitors at their booth.
Chinese exhibitors also reported favourable results. Tan Jingdan, General Manager of Changshu Guosheng Knitting Machinery Factory, highlighted that many customers arrived with intentions to source fully computerised machines. He mentioned that several orders were received on the first day of the exhibition, affirming the company’s strategic shift towards high-end intelligent solutions.
Stephan Kehry, International Sales Manager for the Textile Division at Erhardt+Leimer, encapsulated the sentiments of many exhibitors by stating that ITMA ASIA + CITME has once again showcased that quality and innovation are crucial for not only surviving but thriving amid increasing competition.
The exhibition covered an expansive area of 160,000 square metres, utilising six halls at the NECC and featuring over 1,700 leading textile machinery manufacturers from 22 countries and regions.
Looking ahead, ITMA ASIA + CITME will return to Singapore for its next edition from October 28 to 31, 2025, followed by another exhibition in Shanghai from November 20 to 24, 2026. For more details about future events, interested parties can visit the official websites of ITMA Asia and CITME.
