APLF 2026, one of the world’s major leather and fashion materials trade fairs, concluded on March 14 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre after three days of business meetings, conferences and networking among global industry participants.
The event brought together buyers, exhibitors and industry organizations under one roof between March 12 – 14, 2026.
One of the highlights of the event was the business matching program. Organizers hosted around 1,000 business matching sessions designed to help buyers and exhibitors find potential partners and explore new business opportunities. According to event organizers, the sessions saw 100% participation from more than 90 buyers representing over 65 countries.
Alongside business meetings, the event also hosted a range of conferences and seminars for industry stakeholders. These included sessions such as the NextGen Fashion Materials Tech Talk and seminars hosted by industry groups including LHCA, Leather Leaders, Leather Naturally, the Italian Vegetable Tanned Leather Consortium and Cotance.
Discussions covered regulatory developments, product innovations, pricing strategies, market trends and new design ideas.
When leathernews.org spoke with several Indian exhibitors present at the fair, many reported a positive response from buyers and said APLF continues to remain an important platform for meeting international customers.
However, some exhibitors also expressed caution about global trade conditions. A few participants pointed to ongoing supply chain uncertainty linked to geopolitical tensions and disruptions in shipping routes around the Strait of Hormuz.
The final day of the event featured an Education Day program as organizers wrapped up the three day fair. With APLF 2026 now concluded, the next edition of the event is scheduled to take place in Hong Kong from March 31 to April 2, 2027.
