The report covers 17 markets, including Greater China and Southeast Asian markets, Japan, Korea, India, Pakistan, Australia, Combodia and Myanmar. It provides complete data on these regions up to 31 December 2017, with additional figures and commentary on likely trends for 2018.

Looking at the growth of Asian exhibitions in terms of net space sold, there was an average increase of 7%, reaching 22 million sqm. More than half of the total net space sold (13 million sqm) was in China, over six times more than the second largest of Japan (2 million sqm).

Cambodia was the fastest growing small market, with net space sold up by 28%, while India was the fastest growing large market, up 11% from the previous year. Several other large markets reported less significant growth.

According to the report’s forecast, by the end of 2018 the venue capacity Asia will reach over 9 milion sqm, and the number of venues operating in Asia will increase to 230.

Kai Hattendorf, UFI managing director, commented: “We are pleased to publish the 14thedition of this report. As our industry changes and evolves, UFI’s growing portfolio of research reports offers our members valuable insights into the direction exhibitions are heading and the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.”