Messe München International, organiser of the upcoming bauma China 2008 exhibition, has announced that demand for exhibition space at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre is higher than ever. On a total exhibition space of what has now increased to 200,000 m2, more than 1,200 exhibitors can exhibit at this year's fair. Compared to the 2006 exhibition, that corresponds to a 33% increase in space and an approximately 10% increase in the number of exhibitors.

Additionally well-known international key players are strengthening the various exhibition sectors, and joint exhibits from Germany, Great Britain, Finland, Italy, Spain, Korea and the USA will give several first-time exhibitors a chance to make new contacts with the audience of trade visitors. As a result, at more than 50%, the share of international exhibitors will remain at a high level, which reflects bauma China's importance as a leading exhibition for Asia. Trade visitors who attend this year's fair are expected to be as international as they were in 2006: of the 80,000 visitors at the 2006 fair, some 15,000 were from countries other than China. Japan was the most strongly represented country, accounting for 15% of the visitors, followed by Korea at 10% and India and Russia at 7% each. There were also some 65,000 Chinese trade visitors representing 31 provinces.

bauma China 2008 is being held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre from November 24 - 28.