For Electronics Fair and electronicAsia.
The student demonstrations might have been making the headlines but the Autumn Edition of the Hong Kong Electronics Fair and electronicAsia, jointly attracted close to 67,000 visitors.
“Despite the ongoing trade friction between the United States and Mainland China and the continued social unrest in Hong Kong, the twin electronics fairs and associated events ran without a hitch,” Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) acting director, Benjamin Chau said.
He added that the two electronics fairs saw an increase in buyer attendance from various markets that demonstrated that global buyers continue to view Hong Kong as an important trading platform for electronic products.
The HKTDC commissioned an independent survey during the fair period, interviewing 1,055 exhibitors and buyers, with the majority taking a conservative view on the outlook for the industry. More than half of respondents expect overall sales will remain steady next year, while 25% expect sales to increase and 17% forecast a decrease. Korea was viewed as the most promising traditional market with the strongest growth potential.
When it came to product trends 75% of industry players held a positive view towards augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) devices with mobile or online games offering the greatest market potential. Respondents were also optimistic about electronic or electrical accessories, followed by audio visual products, computers and peripherals. This was a significantly more promising indication of market forecasts compared to last year.
One buyer interviewed said the recent situation in Hong Kong did not affect his decision to visit the fair as he believed that “Hong Kong was still a safe place to do business”.