UFI, the Global Association for the Exhibition Industry, has released the latest edition of its flagship Global Barometer research.
One of the key findings is a weaker first half of 2019 in terms of revenue growth compared to 2018, but there is still an overall positive trend for the year in relation to revenue.
With regard to operating profit, 80% of companies maintained a good level of performance in 2018, and more than 40% of companies from all regions declared an increase of more than 10% compared to 2017. However, the prospects for 2019 are currently lower globally, in line with the worldwide slowdown of economic growth.
Results also indicate that the top business issue within the industry remains the “State of the national/regional economy” (selected by 24% of all respondents), ahead of “Competition within the industry” and “Global economic developments” (each selected by 19%).
Kai Hattendorf, UFI Managing Director/CEO, commented: “Exhibitions mirror markets – therefore a slowdown in global economic growth also affects the exhibition industry, as this latest edition of our UFI Global Barometer shows.
“But the data also proves that exhibitions are not just resilient, but show a consistently strong performance and growth opportunities in many core markets around the world.”
This latest edition of UFI’s bi-annual industry survey was concluded in July 2019 and includes data from a record 322 companies in 57 countries and regions.
The study delivers outlooks and analysis for 16 countries and regions: Argentina (for the first time), Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Macau, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, the UK and the US. In addition, four aggregated regional zones have been analysed.
The full results can be viewed at this link.
