From 28 to 31 March, CIFM / interzum guangzhou once again took centre stage at the Canton Fair Complex in Guangzhou, China. As Asia’s premier trade platform for the upstream furniture manufacturing industry, the exhibition brought together over 1,500 exhibitors from nearly 30 countries, spanning an impressive 180,000 square metres. Held in conjunction with the second phase of the China International Furniture Fair (Office and Commercial Space), the event welcomed 220,932 trade visitors, a 2.68% increase compared to 2024. Among this audience, overseas visitors grew by 3.66% year-on-year, setting a new benchmark for international engagement.
A platform for collaborative innovation
Centred around the theme “Play Bigger”, this year’s edition served as a powerful showcase of global synergies, offering a dynamic blueprint for the future of the furniture industry. Over 240 leading international brands participated, with strong backing from the European Federation of Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers (EUMABOIS). Exhibitor delegations from Germany and Turkey, along with organisations such as the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), American Softwoods, Quebec Wood Export Bureau (QWEB), and the Malaysian Timber Council (MTC), returned in large numbers. Together, they showcased cutting-edge technologies, premium hardware, innovative materials, high-performance fabrics, sustainable adhesives and engineered panels, demonstrating the full spectrum of next-generation furniture manufacturing.
The trade fair’s professional atmosphere and strong commercial outcomes received great praise from the exhibitors. “At the American Hardwood Export Council, we promote a wide range of American hardwood species for furniture manufacturing and design. AHEC has exhibited at interzum guangzhou more than ten times in recent years, and we’ve been consistently satisfied with the experience,” said the organisation’s regional director for Southeast Asia and Greater China, John Chan. “We’ve found it to be a valuable platform for supporting the growth of our industry, and we certainly hope to return again next year.”
AHEC Pavilion at interzum guangzhou 2025
Xinxin Gao, general manager of the Guangzhou branch of Schattdecor China, echoed these sentiments: “Since its establishment, the Schattdecor Group has consistently participated in the interzum editions hosted in Germany. This year marks Schattdecor China’s 17th participation in interzum guangzhou. During the trade fair, we attracted a great deal of interest from Chinese customers and engaged with numerous clients from Southeast Asia, the Asia-Pacific region and countries in the Belt and Road Initiative. We are truly grateful to interzum for providing such a valuable platform. It was a pleasure to reconnect with old acquaintances, forge new business relationships and identify potential customers at the trade fair.”
Throughout the event, over 200 tailored business matching sessions established valuable connections between exhibitors and targeted buyers from China and beyond. Companies such as Admira, Airland, Alian Furniture, Aukey, Bell Laminates, Dynamic Furniture, Ellesime, Goldinjaya, homechoice, Hup Chong Furniture, Indofitting, Interior D, Kelisen, LA-OR, Muar Industries, Pan Timur, Sibling Home, SIRO, TKL Gallery, Triple W Furniture, United Woodwork, vifa and Wood Solid (PIANO) connected directly with hand-picked suppliers and explored opportunities for collaboration. Delegations from the Malaysian Furniture Council (MFC), Rede PRÓ (Brazil), and various chambers of industry from Guangdong province also attended and firmly endorsed the trade fair’s forward-thinking technologies, product diversity and unrivalled networking potential.
“interzum guangzhou 2025 exceeded our expectations,” said Kishan Kaila, managing director of Bell Laminates from India. “The well-organised event, combined with the high calibre of the exhibitors and attendees, made it a worthwhile investment of our time and resources. We are eagerly anticipating future collaborations with the suppliers we met and are looking forward to attending the next edition of interzum guangzhou.”
Similar views were expressed by Eeling Chong, executive director of SIBLING Home & Kitchen from Malaysia: “The business matching session was a great addition to the event. It strengthened our ability to connect with potential partners and significantly increased our chances of establishing new collaborations. The structured meet-ups enabled deeper discussions, helping us to better understand each other’s needs and explore meaningful opportunities for future partnerships. In addition, interzum guangzhou was an excellent platform for networking and strategic exchanges, offering valuable insights into market trends and fostering stronger relationships with key stakeholders.”
Ideas that spark change
Alongside cutting-edge product showcases, a rich line-up of forums and feature events broadened perspectives and fuelled fresh thinking. This year’s interzum guangzhou Award recognised 15 outstanding innovations, selected by an international jury and presented in a dedicated display area. Their achievements in technological innovation, design and material applications provided inspiration for future furniture development.
The VSIL Forum, presented under the theme “Design Utopia”, returned to the event with a renewed focus on “New Reality, New Solutions”. By fostering an open dialogue between international designers and pioneering players in the supply chain, the forum explored practical avenues for integrating design into manufacturing in order to drive high-quality industry growth.
Also hosted during the trade fair, the Boundless Innovation Forum highlighted innovation in decorative panel surface design, bringing together experts, designers and manufacturers from around the world. The discussions in the forum addressed emerging trends in surface technology and the evolving needs of the decorative panel segment, offering in-depth insights into the entire value chain, from production to applications.
The success of CIFM / interzum guangzhou 2025 marks a pivotal moment as Asia’s furniture manufacturing industry continues its transition from volume-based output to innovation-driven, sustainable development. Looking ahead, the trade fair remains committed to building a global platform that drives resource integration, exchanges of ideas and value creation.
The next edition of CIFM / interzum guangzhou will be held from 28 to 31 March 2026 at the Canton Fair Complex in Guangzhou. For the latest updates, please visit the trade fair’s official website: www.interzum-guangzhou.com
