Hong Kong Watch Fairs Attract 16,000 Buyers with Optimistic Outlook for Middle East and Asian Markets
TL;DR
The HKTDC watch fairs generated major orders, with companies securing million-dollar deals and exclusive distributorships in growing markets like the Middle East and ASEAN.
The fairs used a hybrid EXHIBITION+ model combining physical events with AI-driven Click2Match platform, attracting 16,000 buyers from 95 countries over five days.
Innovations like eco-friendly watches from recycled materials and health-focused smart watches demonstrate the industry's commitment to sustainability and preventive healthcare.
Watch enthusiasts spent nearly HK$100,000 on unique timepieces, including watches made from recycled coffee grounds and tea leaves with traditional Chinese medicine features.
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The 44th HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and the 13th Salon de TIME, organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association Limited, and The Federation of Hong Kong Watch Trades & Industries Limited, concluded successfully with approximately 16,000 trade buyers from 95 countries and regions attending the physical event. International buyers primarily originated from Mainland China, Taiwan, India, Japan, the United States, and ASEAN nations including Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, reinforcing Hong Kong's status as a global watch trading hub.
HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Sophia Chong emphasized the event's significance, noting that over 650 exhibitors from 15 countries and regions participated, featuring specialized pavilions from Guangzhou, Taiwan, the Swiss Independent Watchmakers Pavilion (SIWP), and the French pavilion by Francéclat. The return of exhibitors from Germany, Japan, Lebanon, and the Netherlands, along with a post-pandemic high in brands at Salon de TIME, highlighted Hong Kong's role as a springboard for international market entry and innovation showcase.
An on-site survey conducted by HKTDC with 920 exhibitors and buyers revealed optimistic industry outlooks, with 59% expecting sales growth over the next 12-24 months. Key markets identified for promising growth included the Middle East (82%), Taiwan (79%), Korea (78%), Latin America (76%), Australia (76%), and ASEAN countries (73%). Product-wise, 47% of respondents viewed smart watches as having the most significant growth potential, followed by fashion watches (30%) and casual watches (26%).
The fairs facilitated substantial business deals, such as Saat ve Saat from Turkiye securing a US$1 million annual order for automatic mechanical watches from Hong Kong's Dailywin Watch Products Mfg Ltd through the Click2Match platform at https://click2match.hktdc.com. Similarly, Su & Co Trading Company from Myanmar purchased US$600,000 worth of branded watches and established distribution agreements, including with Mathey Tissot from the SIWP pavilion.
Innovation was prominently featured, with Hong Kong exhibitor Dayton Industrial launching the Watch2Care TCM smart watch, integrating traditional Chinese medicine with digital health monitoring, attracting distributors from Germany, Mainland China, Singapore, and the US. German brand Lilienthal Berlin introduced eco-friendly watches using recycled materials, drawing global buyer interest from countries like Bangladesh, Israel, Italy, and the UAE.
Salon de TIME, open free to the public alongside CENTRESTAGE, attracted over 19,000 visitors and featured around 400 brands, including "Guochao" series watches from Mainland China. Exhibitors like Sun International Concepts reported increased enthusiasm and successful distributor partnerships for ASEAN market expansion, with on-site sales projected to reach six figures, a 10% increase from the previous year. The Microbrands zone showcased affordable, stylish niche watches, with first-time exhibitor Watchcatavlog engaging buyers from Canada, Taiwan, and the UAE.
The events underscore the watch industry's recovery and growth trajectory, with hybrid EXHIBITION+ models extending business opportunities beyond physical fairs. The continued operation of the Click2Match platform at https://click2match.hktdc.com until September 13 allows ongoing global negotiations, supporting the industry's adaptive strategies in a evolving market landscape.
Curated from NewMediaWire
