China International Hardware Show 2025
World Hardware Meeting
Shanghai, October 10-12, 2025 – The countdown has begun for the 22nd edition of the China International Hardware Show (CIHS), which will invest in the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. With more than 2,800 exhibitors on 120,000 m², cet événement co organisé par la China National Hardware Association and Koelnmesse s’annonce comme la plus grande vitrine internationale B2B du marché de la quincaillerie en Chine
It is an understatement to say that we are living in a complicated international economic context. The world seems more than ever in turmoil. No continent, for various reasons, is spared today, and especially not China, due to its economic and industrial power on the global chessboard. Once nicknamed the workshop of the world, it is now also the country of high technology in all fields of activity. If it does not deny what it was, quite the contrary, it now adds know-how in this new universe whose limits no one knows anymore, so dazzling is its progress, supported by a government that has supported and continues to support all Chinese companies. Strengthened by this state presence, they have therefore invested heavily and continue to invest in the very demanding fields that research and development have become. So much so that this upheaval is propelling the global Chinese industrial offer towards an upscaling of which no one sees the peak. Who, for example, could have imagined that the Middle Kingdom would so dazzlingly shake up the automotive world, a historic stronghold of the West, and everything suggests that the phenomenon is not about to reverse. Manufacturers and subcontractors are demonstrating unprecedented audacity and creative imagination, thanks in particular to the omnipresence of digital technology and on-board electronics. The fact remains that our approach to our beloved cars will never be the same again. From now on, they will drive us in absolute safety and offer us possibilities never before seen in the history of our mobility.
Did you say crisis? What crisis?
It's fashionable to describe China as being in crisis right now, and many experts are predicting dark days ahead. It's time to put things in perspective. Certainly, in these very turbulent times, the country is experiencing problems, including this famous real estate crisis that is dragging on. High-profile bankruptcies are occurring one after another, but that doesn't mean the market has collapsed. It is undergoing a thorough cleaning that is certainly not without consequences, particularly on household morale and, consequently, on domestic consumption, which is stagnating. And then there was this terrible Covid crisis, which didn't help matters, as it claimed so many victims and terrorized the population, who are only just beginning to truly forget it. We mustn't forget that the country has remained isolated from the world for almost three years. This is absolutely enormous. It therefore goes without saying that in this context of real estate and health crisis, confidence cannot return all at once.
Two irons in the fire
It goes without saying, however, that if China has maintained its position as the world's second-largest power, it is because it has always known how to keep two irons in the fire, in case of a decline in activity in one or the other. With the slowdown of the domestic market, it is the export markets that have taken over, and in what way. With colossal investments in all areas, Chinese industry is conquering the world. The example of the automobile industry, which we described earlier in these columns, is one of the most striking, but it is not the only one. So much so that China has just published statistics that many countries would envy, with growth exceeding 5%. All this proves the formidable agility of an economy, capable of adapting to all circumstances and even anticipating consumer demand. For example, it is now a given that global markets are demanding durable, high-quality products in specific areas, such as tools and hardware, while offering competitive pricing. This shift has been definitively embraced by the players in this industry for several years now. While their production allows them to be the armed wing of the world's factory, they have understood that if it wants to remain so, they must offer, beyond competitive prices, a high-performance, high-quality offering. This is what manufacturers have been able to do. They have thus succeeded in establishing themselves as key players, whether in finished products or as subcontractors, whether in OEM or ODM. This is without forgetting the concepts of sustainability and respect for the environment, an area in which China is investing considerably, and it seems that the efforts are starting to bear fruit, since domestic factories are on the way to becoming among the most virtuous in the world in terms of emissions. In this context of upheavals at all levels, the CIHS 2025 is a year of marked optimism, with many leading brands confirming their presence, proving that the Chinese market remains a strategic link in the global supply chain. The organizers are making a clear call to buyers and professionals: “Come explore new business opportunities in China!”
Loyal international brands at the rendezvous
Among the names already announced: Avron, Gong Fong, Great Star, Great Wall Precision, Kendo, Kukko Werkzeugfabrik, Nakai, Rose Plastic, Rosver, Stand Tools, TDC and Wedo Tools. Exhibitors will come from more than 15 countries and regions: China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Pakistan, Russia, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, Vietnam… All will present innovations, new ranges and market analyses. For the professional visitor, it is therefore a real promise of a complete panorama: hand and power tools, abrasives, fasteners, building hardware, locks, equipment and accessories. The show also opens up to new segments: locks and accessories, garden & outdoor, workplace safety and protection, expanding its offer beyond the flagship categories.
Loyal international brands at the rendezvous
The CIHS 2025 will not be limited to an exhibition: it offers a program of activities designed to strengthen commercial ties and stimulate innovation. A significant new feature for this coming year is the presence of thematic workshops on the rise of Chinese brands internationally, consumer trends, regulatory developments in the field of tools, and emerging strategies in digital marketing and cross-border trade, which demonstrates the organizers' desire to raise awareness among visitors on these essential themes. Conferences, round tables, presentations by manufacturers, buyers, MRO platforms, and specialized media will offer all buyers and market players an up-to-date understanding of the situation.
A tailor-made Hosted Buyer program
To optimize the presence of international buyers, the show is implementing a Hosted Buyer program: targeted business meetings, guided tours of the show, and industrial tours of production hubs, particularly in Jinhua, the beating heart of tool manufacturing in China. This immersion allows visitors to see production "at the source" and assess the industrial capabilities of potential partners. These organized visits are a key asset for the show, which thus allows them to add an arrow to their bow.
A clear positioning: gateway to China
The CIHS remains the essential platform for anyone who wants to enter or strengthen their presence in the Chinese market. The event presents itself as an open, reliable and fair space for foreign brands, and a showcase for the export of Chinese manufacturers. In addition, it should not be forgotten that Koelnmesse also has in its portfolio, the salon Eisnwarenmesse another major biennial event in the sector. Obviously, there are synergies between these two major global platforms. Thus, German and Chinese organizers can master the hardware sector like no one else on the planet.
Still, from October 10 to 12, 2025, the Shanghai New International Expo Centre will be the scene of a gathering where contracts, partnerships and future trends in global hardware will be established. In a market where “change” rhymes with both challenge and opportunity, the CIHS 2025 is emerging as a necessary step for every professional.
CIHS 2025 : October 10-12
Shanghai New International Expo Centre(SNIEC) 2345 Long Yang Road Pudong New Area
The organizers in figures
• Koelnmesse : organizer of major hardware trade fairs (Cologne, Bergamo, New Delhi, Bogotá, etc.) and expanding with new events in Jakarta and Riyadh from 2025.
• China National Hardware Association : unique national association in the sector, created in 1988, bringing together manufacturers, local associations and research institutes around 11 product branches.