China’s only international leather fair, ACLE, will celebrate its 25th edition in Shanghai from 3 to 5 September 2025. In the same week, the UITIC Congress will focus on the competitiveness and sustainability of the footwear industry in the age of artificial intelligence.
All China Leather Exhibition (ACLE), China’s first and only international leather fair, returns for its 25th edition from 3 to 5 September 2025 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC). Since its debut in 1998, ACLE has welcomed tens of thousands of professional buyers from China’s major tanning and leather manufacturing provinces, becoming a central trade hub for the global leather sector.
The previous two editions in 2023 and 2024 attracted record-breaking attendance with 28,300 and 31,300 visitors respectively. Mr. Roque Dias of Aritas Vinyl noted that ACLE provides a wide range of resources to meet industry needs, while Ms. Zhao Suning, Chief Designer of SAIC Volkswagen, described the fair as “dazzling” and “eye-opening.”
Given China’s dependence on imported raw materials and chemicals for leather production, ACLE remains a vital sourcing platform for local tanneries and manufacturers. However, this year’s event is overshadowed by trade tensions—particularly U.S. import tariffs—that are disrupting the leather supply chain and threatening the competitiveness of U.S. raw materials in the Chinese market.
The three-day event will be complemented by a series of commercial and educational programs, including the Spring/Summer 2025 Leather Trends, the International Tanning Industry CEO Summit, and various seminars exploring the evolving landscape of the leather industry.
Running alongside ACLE, the 22nd Congress of the International Union of Shoe Industry Technicians (UITIC) will take place from 31 August to 3 September 2025, also in Shanghai. This year’s theme, “Competitiveness and Sustainability of the Footwear Industry in the Age of AI,” will bring together industry experts, innovators, and decision-makers.
During the first two days, participants will visit local factories, R&D centers, and training institutions. On days three and four (2–3 September), closed-door conferences will be held to explore a wide range of technologies impacting the footwear sector. UITIC also announced a luxury gala dinner cruise on the Huangpu River on the second evening, followed by a joint visit to the ACLE and Moda China trade fairs on the third day to explore the latest trends and innovations in leather and footwear.
