The Asian commercial marine industry’s foremost exhibition, Seawork Asia is set for success in light of David Cameron’s talks in October with the Chinese President, Xi Jinping. Following the Chinese premier’s State Visit, Cameron has hailed greater cooperation along with trade deals, which will help aid British maritime organisations in their quest to launch and reinforce their businesses and brands in China.
China is currently ranked second in the world for shipbuilding, and has experienced fast growth for seven consecutive years. China alone has over 32,000 kilometres of shoreline, 1,400 harbours and 1,600 shipyards containing than 170,000 vessels. Therefore there are myriad opportunities for sales and collaboration between Chinese businesses and firms located across the globe.
The demand for marine civil engineering, workboats and floating plant, together with the equipment and services that keep them in operation is forecast to grow at double figure rates during the next twenty years. The rapid increase in marine activity also requires a wide range of support services such as coastguard, patrol, safety and navigation.
Hence Mercator Media’s decision to launch Seawork Asia. Seawork Asia launched in 2014 as a sister event to Europe’s leading commercial marine and workboat exhibition, Seawork International. In November 2016 Seawork Asia will once again return to open its doors for the second time.
The inaugural Seawork Asia saw 70 exhibitors, 5,000 attendees, and 10,000 products and services ranging from marine electronics, training, crew transfer, security, naval architecture through to engines and deck equipment. The event comprises an exhibition, conference and banquet.
There is high demand for machinery, key electric-mechanical equipment, communications systems, diesel engine crankshafts and components, high powered diesel engines, ship superstructures, deep-sea exploration ship products, high-grade steel plates and section bars, and environmentally friendly paint. Other potential prospects for shipbuilding can be seen in markets for coating equipment, computer-aided design software and associated technology for ship design and construction, equipment maintenance, high-tech equipment (such as GPS, navigation and on-board computer systems), and cutting and welding. China’s marine equipment industry currently lags behind the shipbuilding industry. Technologically advanced equipment is in high demand.
Due to its vulnerable location, maritime emergency response and port safety equipment and services have also begun attracting attention in China. There are good opportunities for equipment, technology, and services related to communication and supervision systems, flight supervision and maritime rescue, marine oil spills, salvage, mapping, waterway maintenance, and public security.
Shanghai is at the centre of the fast-growing East Asian commercial marine business, which has a vast coastline to maintain, in addition to many opportunities for further expansion of the sector.
The demand for marine civil engineering, workboats and floating plant, together with the equipment and services that keep them in operation is forecast to grow at double figure rates during the next twenty years. The rapid increase in marine activity also requires a wide range of support services such as coastguard, patrol, safety and navigation.
Seawork Asia will next open its doors at the Shanghai World Exhibition and Conference Centre in Shanghai (SWECC) for three days from 29 November 2016.
