Results of the 10th Global Barometer Survey from UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, confirm that the exhibition industry continues to grow with a majority of companies reporting increased revenue for 2012.
After reviewing the consolidated results over ten surveys, UFI now perceives a clear shift between the two regions which had demonstrated a strong recovery in 2010 and 2011. During that time period, an average of 80 percent of companies in Asia Pacific and the Americas reported increasing revenue. For 2013, the Asia Pacific region now anticipates a slowdown in growth to the same level as European, Middle East and African regions where 60 percent of companies experience revenue increases. The slower growth noted in 2012 in the Americas now appears to have reversed itself. The region is showing the highest proportion of companies anticipating an increase in revenue for 2013.
“While Asia Pacific has been the main growth area since 2010, the situation there is shifting with slower growth expected in 2013,” said Paul Woodward, managing director of UFI. “Current projections indicate that the highest exhibition industry growth should be achieved in the Americas during the next twelve months.”
The Americas are currently the only region to declare that the impact of the economic crisis on their exhibition business is now behind them. However, in terms of annual profit, only 40 percent of companies in all regions have announced an increase of over 10 percent in profits for 2012.
The current survey reveals that industry concerns remain constant with general economic considerations, followed by local competition and internal management challenges at the top. Seventy-five percent of the organizations surveyed included the development of new business activities among their strategic objectives. The survey also found that 54 percent of respondents plan to expand exhibition operations into new countries.
“As a whole, the industry remains remarkably dynamic proving that the exhibition media qualifies as one of the top marketing tools for companies aiming to develop their business,” said Woodward.
The 10th Global Exhibition Barometer survey was conducted in December 2012 and included 213 replies from 56 countries. Major national markets where a large number of responses were obtained include China, Germany, Italy, Russia, Turkey and the U.S.
Full results of the 10th Global Barometer Survey can be freely downloaded at www.ufi.org/research. The next UFI Global Barometer Survey will be conducted in June.
