• Approximately 30 percent of the visitors came from abroad
• Order volume of Euros 115 million
• Tobacco industry optimistic

"The Inter-tabac is and will remain the number one of the industry; the world’s largest trade fair for tobacco products and smoking accessories once again confirmed the aforementioned over the last three days", says Sabine Loos, Chairman and CEO of Westfalenhallen Dortmund GmbH and Managing Director of Messe Westfalenhallen Dortmund GmbH. With 303 exhibitors (2010: 287) from a total of 40 countries, the trade fair set a new record. The next record followed directly thereafter: 7,987 trade visitors (+ 11.8%) and, thus, more than ever before informed themselves about products from the fields of tobacco products, smoking accessories, media products, shop equipment, liquor, and wines between 23 and 25 September 2011 in the Messe Westfalenhallen Dortmund.

The Non-profit supporting organisation of the Inter-tabac, the Handelsverband Nordrhein-Westfalen e. V., Fachbereich Tabakwaren [Trade-Association of North Rhine-Westfalia, Department Tobacco Products], is pleased with the constant success of the specialised trade fair: "The Inter-tabac is a first class trade fair; there is no other way of expressing it. It is the leading trade fair of the tobacco products industry. The German specialised trade was represented strongly on the first trade fair day already and utilised the opportunity to obtain information on national and international products. Since on the basis of its increasing internationality, the Inter-tabac allows for an overview over the worldwide product portfolios", says Managing Director Thomas Schäfer.

The trade visitors came from the entire federal territory and abroad to visit the Inter-tabac. The share of foreign trade visitors again increased slightly: this year, 29 percent of the visitors came from abroad, including visitors from Africa, Asia, and the Near and Middle East, as well as from the United States of America, which resulted from the survey implemented by an independent trade fair market research institute.

"For us, the Inter-tabac was an absolute success!"

As the international importance of the Inter-tabac is constantly increasing, the exhibitors prepared accordingly: "This year, we had significantly more people from the field of export at our booth, and it was worth it”, says Gudrun Waggin, Sales & Marketing Director with OCB. "Visitors from Europe, many of which came from Eastern Europe, Asia, South America, and Indonesia visited us. Many of our customers from the field of specialised trade already visited us on Friday, whereby they made large amounts of time to obtain comprehensive information about the products and novelties", says Waggin. Her conclusion: "For us, the Inter-tabac was an absolute success!"

The internationality did not only increase on part of the visitors. This year, the share of foreign exhibiting companies reached a peak value of 48 percent. With KT & G, another huge player from the Republic of Korea was represented. The cigarette manufacturing company exports its brands to the USA, to China and to Central and South Asia and now wants to develop the European market as well. "We are very happy with the turnout of the Inter-tabac", says Brand Manager Kelly Song. "We have had very good discussions and have now established contact with some European distributors. However, people from Africa and from South and North America also visited our booth", added Song. The company also participates in other international specialised trade fairs. However, Song is convinced: "The Inter-tabac is the number one in the branch; we will be back next year."

The detailed final report is available below as PDF files.