XIAMEN, CHINA - Held in Xiamen from March 6 to 9, 2011, China Xiamen Stone Fair 2011 had an impressive turnout, with 1,370 exhibiting companies from 50 countries. A total of 120,478 industry professionals were in attendance, 22,185 of whom came from 140 foreign countries.

With more than 1.1 million square feet of exhibit space, visitors could find many stones from different suppliers, along with stone machinery, tools and accessories. The show floor also featured national pavilions from countries such as Brazil, Egypt, Finland, France, India, Iran, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and Turkey. Additionally, overseas visiting groups with high-purchasing capacity boomed in this edition of the fair - spotlighting a new concern from markets such as Belgium, France, Germany, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Lebanon, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand and Vietnam, among many others.

Attendance at Xiamen Stone Fair 2011 revealed that the exhibition has grown as a highly important platform for stone companies to meet new customers, exploit new markets and stay ahead of competition in the stone industry, reports the show’s organizer.

Also during the show, the World Stone Congress 2011 took place, focusing on the topic of “The Using of Stone in Architecture.” A team of VIP Speakers, including industry experts such as famous architects, designers and stone associations at home and abroad, was invited to make speeches.

Next year’s edition of the Xiamen Stone Fair is scheduled from March 6 to 9, 2012. More than 1,500 exhibitors will take part in 2012, covering more than 1.2 square feet of exhibition area. The 12th Xiamen Stone Fair will use all of the halls of the last edition as well as some more added space. Additionally, plans are under way to build a modern exhibition center that will be put into use in 2013.