Driving the growth

China is an eye opener. This is a country of huge opportunities and massive growth. No wonder the world today is eyeing the markets here and many companies are making a beeline for improving their balance sheets. Driving past the city, one can’t help but notice the development and renovation in terms of infrastructure. An export driven country, China is also increasingly becoming a major consumer market for premium brands. The increase in local consumption is expected to play a bigger role in contributing towards the growth of country’s GDP. The growing middle class, increasing incomes, nuclear families and a huge population are a driving force for any industry.

These are the factors that are also driving the growth and momentum of the labels industry in this market. According to a presentation by Jukka-Pekka Haapanen of UPM Raflatc, self-adhesive labelling will enjoy robust growth globally but 80 percent of it in 2010-20 will come from emerging markets and China alone will contribute 50 per cent of this. Increased number of running machines at the show floor and more than 20 new product launches in the next four days are an important indication that the China market is evolving fast. Where companies did not prefer to get the machines at the show, now they are trying to engage more actively with the Chinese consumer. No wonder Labelexpo Asia has grown and at its tenth anniversary is the biggest exhibition since its inception in 2002.