The first Yarn Expo - China International Trade Fair for Fibres and Yarns which will be held next year will provide new opportunity for the international fibre and yarn industry to showcase its latest collections in China.

The event will take place from 31 March - 2 April at the Beijing National Agricultural Exhibition Centre and is scheduled as one of four shows that will make up the inaugural ''Beijing Textile Arena.'' Other events include Intertextile Beijing (apparel fabrics & accessories); CHIC (garments and fashion accessories); and a Knitting Fair (knitted garments).

Yarn Expo is expected to attract thousands of textile manufacturers and fashion industry professionals from north and north-eastern China.

"Foreign manufacturers can find huge opportunities in the Chinese market, where the demand for imported textile products far outstrips domestic supply. With its massive volume of textile and garment production, China is now one of the biggest importers of fibres, yarns and fabrics from around the world," says Katy Lam, Director of Trade Fairs for Messe Frankfurt in Hong Kong.

"The Yarn Expo will cater to the entire fibre and yarn industry, producers of yarns for apparel textiles, home textiles, upholstery and interiors will all be exhibiting at the show."

The new event is being organised by Messe Frankfurt and the Sub-Council of Textile Industry (CCPIT), together with the China Cotton Textile Association, China Wool Textile Association, China Chemical Fibre Association, China Bast & Leaf Fibres Association and China Textile Information Centre. The Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council of India (Texprocil) is the overseas supporting organisation.