Imfino News

Naples, FL, July 25, 2018 - Following the success of the seventh annual Breakbulk China in March, ITE Group is pleased to announce that the event will be renamed Breakbulk Asia beginning in 2019. The change reflects the growing participation of companies based in both Asia and Southeast Asia that added to the core Chinese market.

“As China’s global influence expands through its sweeping One Belt One Road initiative, its neighbors on all sides are doing more business with China, particularly with large infrastructure and oil & gas projects,” Nick Davison, Breakbulk Portfolio Director, said. “Breakbulk event in Shanghai has become the new business hub for the project cargo industry.”

This year’s exhibition and conference attracted more than 150 decision-makers from some of China’s largest engineering and construction firms focused on renewable energy, rail, port expansion, mining and infrastructure projects. Top world-ranked companies included China Communications Construction Co., Ltd. (CCCC), China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG), and China Railway Group Limited (CREC). Oil & gas sector representation was led by China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) and Aramco. These global leaders came to the event to source suppliers from the 154 exhibitors that filled the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Conference Center.

“The event was fantastic,” Sean Zhang, Purchasing and Supply Chain Manager, Solvay Asia Pacific, said. “We had a lot of discussions and negotiating there and a lot of new ideas came out of it.”

Exhibitors came from across the globe, representing a total of 46 countries. While the majority were from Mainland China, a strong contingent came from Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia, which prompted the market expansion and subsequent rebranding.

“We have been supporting this event since its inception,” Randy Selvaratnam, Country Manager China, The China Navigation Company said. “As it provides us with the opportunity to showcase our products and services to our customers and partners, in the one place. In 2018, we were able to introduce both Swire Bulk and Swire Shipping at the conference allowing us to leverage on the broad spectrum of visitors.”

Total show attendance reached 4743 with sea transport providers and freight forwarders making up about 80 percent. Ports, terminals, equipment providers, industry-related services and specialty transport providers made up the balance. Together, Breakbulk China hosted the end-to-end project supply chain, presenting numerous opportunities for new project business for all involved.

“Moving freight in and out of China is a bit like surfing—you never know what kind of wave you are going to get, so you’d better prepare in advance with the skills, knowledge and tools needed for any type of weather,” Mac Sullivan, Transpacific Trade Lane Manager for Toll Global Forwarding said. “You have to understand that relationships are everything—there is absolutely nothing that can replace that initial handshake and looking someone in the eye as the foundation of a strong relationship.”

Beyond business networking, the event included a robust conference program designed to present business intelligence that attendees need for more productive operations in Asia. Organizers tap into their extensive network to determine what issues are of most importance for project cargo specialists in the short term and also offered forward-looking analysis for informed strategic decisions.

Understanding China’s export of its project expertise to other Asian countries led to a varied program that featured China and South Korea’s partnerships around shipbuilding, car manufacturing and clean energy; and a session on China’s investment in Southeast Asian port infrastructure. And of course, a Belt and Road update was presented by a trade expert from the Ministry of Commerce—a topic that continues to be of interest to the Breakbulk audience.

Breakbulk Asia will take place in Shanghai from 20-21 March 2019. Look forward to an increasing number of participants both inside and outside of China as China accelerates its endeavors abroad.

About Breakbulk Events & Media, a division of ITE Group PLC

Breakbulk events are held in four locations around the world and are the leading industry-specific exhibition in each region. In addition to Breakbulk Asia, Breakbulk Americas, the original Breakbulk event, will be held in Houston, Texas, the hub for the oil and gas industry, from 2-4 Oct. 2018; Breakbulk Middle East will be held in Dubai, UAE, from 11-12 Feb. 2019; and Breakbulk Europe in Bremen from 21-23 May 2019. For more information about exhibiting, sponsoring and attending these events, visit breakbulk.com.