In 2019, Shanghai's exhibition industry developed steadily and positively. Exhibition capacity improved steadily, and scale benefits expanded further. Venue operating capacity strengthened, the scale of individual exhibitions continued to expand, branded exhibitions continued to cluster, and the characteristics of large-scale, intensive and international development became clear.

I. Industry Development

1. Development of exhibitions and events

According to statistics, Shanghai held 1,043 exhibitions and events of various types in 2019, up 1.07 percent year on year, with a total area of 19.4167 million square meters, up 3.31 percent year on year. Among them, 310 international exhibitions were held, up 3.68 percent year on year, with an exhibition area of 15.0265 million square meters, up 7.02 percent. Domestic exhibitions numbered 496, up 6.21 percent, with an exhibition area of 2.7271 million square meters, up 7.24 percent. There were 45 exhibitions above 100,000 square meters, including six exhibitions above 300,000 square meters. A total of 237 events were held, down 10.90 percent year on year, with an area of 1.6631 million square meters, down 24.82 percent.

Shanghai exhibitions and events in 2019: total number 1,043, up 1.07 percent, total area 19.4167 million square meters, up 3.31 percent. International exhibitions numbered 310, up 3.68 percent, with area of 15.0265 million square meters, up 7.02 percent. Domestic exhibitions numbered 496, up 6.21 percent, with area of 2.7271 million square meters, up 7.24 percent. Events numbered 237, down 10.90 percent, with area of 1.6631 million square meters, down 24.82 percent.

2. Exhibition activity at the nine major venues

Shanghai New International Expo Centre ranked first in total exhibition area, excluding events, with 7.4373 million square meters, accounting for 38.3 percent of the total scale of the nine major venues. The National Exhibition and Convention Center ranked second with 5.7028 million square meters, accounting for 33.47 percent. By number of exhibitions, Shanghai New International Expo Centre ranked first with 138 exhibition projects, accounting for 27.17 percent. Shanghai Everbright Convention and Exhibition Center ranked second with 106 projects, accounting for 20.87 percent and mainly hosting small and medium-sized exhibitions. Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center ranked third with 77 projects, accounting for 15.16 percent.

In 2019, the nine major Shanghai exhibition venues hosted exhibitions as follows, excluding events. Shanghai New International Expo Centre hosted 138 exhibitions, up 4.55 percent, accounting for 27.17 percent by number, with area of 7.4373 million square meters, up 8.07 percent and accounting for 44.37 percent by area. The National Exhibition and Convention Center hosted 49 exhibitions, up 8.89 percent, with area of 5.7028 million square meters, up 2.49 percent. Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center hosted 77 exhibitions, down 15.38 percent, with area of 1.8636 million square meters, down 3.35 percent. Shanghai Everbright Convention and Exhibition Center hosted 106 exhibitions, up 2.91 percent, with area of 633,100 square meters, up 2.81 percent. Shanghai Exhibition Center hosted 61 exhibitions, down 1.61 percent, with area of 545,100 square meters, down 2.56 percent. Shanghai Convention and Exhibition Center of International Sourcing hosted 31 exhibitions, up 29.17 percent, with area of 252,600 square meters, up 31.63 percent. Shanghai Mart hosted 22 exhibitions, down 26.67 percent, with area of 132,500 square meters, down 22.88 percent. Shanghai Automobile Exhibition Center hosted six exhibitions, down 14.29 percent, with area of 106,000 square meters, down 11.7 percent. The agricultural exhibition venue hosted 18 exhibitions, up 20 percent, with area of 90,600 square meters, down 16.34 percent. The nine venues hosted 508 exhibitions in total, down 0.2 percent, with area of 16.7636 million square meters, up 3.85 percent.

3. Exhibition organizers

In 2019, Shanghai held 264 exhibitions above 10,000 square meters. Among them, 98 exhibitions were organized by state-owned enterprises, with a total exhibition area of 6.144 million square meters, accounting for 37.1 percent by number and 39.9 percent by area. A total of 76 exhibitions were organized by foreign-invested enterprises, with an exhibition area of 6.059 million square meters, accounting for 20.8 percent by number and 39.3 percent by area. Private enterprises organized 90 exhibitions, with an exhibition area of 3.2 million square meters, accounting for 34.1 percent by number and 20.8 percent by area. In terms of number, the three types of ownership did not differ greatly, with foreign-invested enterprises slightly fewer. In terms of scale, state-owned and foreign-invested enterprises were roughly equal, while private enterprises were relatively weaker.

Among exhibitions above 10,000 square meters in 2019, state-owned enterprises organized 90 international exhibitions covering 5.925 million square meters and 13 domestic exhibitions covering 219,000 square meters, totaling 103 exhibitions and 6.144 million square meters, with an average of 60,000 square meters. Foreign-invested enterprises organized 74 international exhibitions covering 6.024 million square meters and two domestic exhibitions covering 35,000 square meters, totaling 76 exhibitions and 6.059 million square meters, with an average of 80,000 square meters. Private enterprises organized 61 international exhibitions covering 2.469 million square meters and 29 domestic exhibitions covering 731,000 square meters, totaling 90 exhibitions and 3.2 million square meters, with an average of 36,000 square meters. The average exhibition areas for state-owned, foreign-invested and private enterprises were 63,000, 80,000 and 36,000 square meters respectively. Foreign-invested enterprises had the largest average exhibition scale, followed by state-owned enterprises.