2008 China Ceramic Tile Trade Mission

Ceramic Tile Distributors Association (CTDA) along with U.S. China Ceramic Tile Association, China Ceramics City, and the City of Fo Shan will sponsor a trade mission to Fo Shan, China for U.S. ceramic tile distributors and manufacturers in June 2008. The delegation will also visit a major granite and marble producing region in Yun Fu, Guang Dong provence of China.

The 2008 CTDA Trade Mission to China will be a fantastic opportunity for North American tile distributors to meet with Chinese ceramic tile and stone manufacturers. We will be the honored guests for the grand opening of the new China Ceramics Industry Headquarters in Foshan, China. This facility, five times bigger than the original China Ceramics City, will house amazing tile showrooms and warehousing operations. We’ll see ceramic tile and stone factories and visit with the leaders of some of the world’s largest ceramic companies.

In addition to all this valuable work we will take five days to see many of the beautiful and fascinating sights of China. Our sightseeing will take place in Shanghai and Beijing and includes the "Venice of the East" Great Wall, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Beijing acrobats and night river cruises through downtown Shanghai and Guangzhou. We’ll see the venues for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and get in on some fantastic shopping.

To view the exciting sightseeing tour details, please click here.

                                                      June 18 -- 29, 2008

Mission Description

The trade mission will target a broad range of ceramic, porcelain, glass, metal, stone, and other specialty tiles and mosaics, as well as products that most ceramic tile distributors would carry. The goal of the mission is to match participating U.S. manufacturers and distributors with prescreened Chinese ceramic tile manufacturers, design studios, importers/exporters in each of these product sectors. The mission will include meetings with China's top ceramic tile industry leaders, manufacturer owners and executives, panel discussions, networking opportunities, one-on-one business meetings, industry briefings by experts, and site visits.

Commercial Setting

China: According to Tile Council of North America, “China, which accounts for 12.7% of all tile imported to the U.S., continues to make a tremendous impact on the market. It now is the fourth-largest exporter of tile (in sq. ft.) to the U.S., with consumption up 53.9% from 2005.” The importance of China-made tiles can not be treated lightly for both ceramic tile distributors and manufacturers.

Fo Shan is unique and important in the ceramic tile business, as it accounts for 60% of all porcelain and ceramic tile output of China with a ceramic making history of over 5,000 years. With over 10 billion square feet of annual production, Fo Shan is one of the biggest and most important ceramic/porcelain tile production centers in the world.

China Ceramics Industry Headquarters is the latest and most ambitious development project of the fast growing ceramic tile industry of China. The new project will consist 100 individual buildings with a total building area of over 3. 2 million square feet, and covers a land area of over 2.15 million square feet. CCIH is the second phase project of China Ceramics City, well established ceramic tile industry icon in China.

China Ceramics City is the key sponsor of this trade mission as well as the must see place for ceramic tiles and sanitary ware in Fo Shan. China Ceramics City has become the portal for China's top ceramic tile manufacturers to international markets, as well as the gateway for global buyers for China made ceramic tiles. With over 530,000 square feet of showrooms and offices, China Ceramics City is the best place to see the highest level of Chinese ceramic tile production from over 170 show rooms side by side. To meet the growing international demand for China made tiles, every year China Ceramics City holds China International Ceramics Fair twice. Till now, China Ceramics City has successfully held 9 shows, and it was recognized as the only ceramic tile export base in China by China Construction Ceramics and Sanitary Ware Association. Because of its importance and influence in the industry, China Ceramics City also regularly organizes trade/industry events, such as industry forums, panel discussions, conferences, and etc.

Yun Fu

Yun Fu, Guangdong is one of the most important granite and marble producing centers.

Mission Goals

The Trade Mission’s goal is to facilitate sourcing from the quality manufacturers in China, as well as to assist the mission participants in gaining first-hand market information and access to key industry leaders and potential business partners.

Mission Scenario

In China, the trade mission organizers will:

Proposed Mission Timetable

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

• Leave U.S.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Criteria for Participation:

The mission will be promoted through the following venues: Ceramic Tile Distributors Association (CTDA), U.S. China Ceramic Tile Association, China Ceramics City, and Bravura International Corporation. Qualified U.S. companies/applicants will be selected on a rolling basis. The deadline is May 18, 2008. After the deadline, the registration is still possible on a space available basis. There will be no trade mission participation fee, and organizers in China will sponsor the trade mission in Fo Shan only, and all participants will be responsible for his/her own expenses for the rest of the mission (Shanghai, Beijing, and Yun Fu). The sponsored expenses include:

Other Expenses

The following expenses information is provided for participants for budget purposes, and actual costs may vary as the final per person costs will depend on the number of participants and U.S. dollar exchange rate. The planned group will be 65 people. Please keep in mind this trade mission is sponsored by the Chinese organizers, and this is not a for-profit trade mission.

International Flight Options:

Option 1

San Francisco to Shanghai

UA 857 Depart at 1:21 p.m. arrive in Shanghai Pudong International at 5:25 p.m. the next day local time.

Guang Zhou to San Francisco

UA 868 Depart at 11:00 a.m., arrive in San Francisco at 9 a.m.

Option 2

Chicago to Shanghai

UA 835 depart at 10:32 a.m., arrive in Shanghai Pudong International at 1:55 p.m.

Guang Zhou to Hong Kong to Chicago

CZ301 depart Guangzhou at 8:25 a.m., arrive in HKG at 9:25 a.m.; UA 896 depart HKG at 12:45 p.m., arrive in Chicago O'hare at 2:20 p.m.

Estimated Costs:

International Air Fare: $1,400 estimated, round trip coach class from major airports. Price estimated was accurate as of Feburary, 2008. International air fare subject to changes. Please contact Ms. Lulu Liu for more up-to-date quote.

Optional Tour (Shanghai/Beijing/Yunfu)

Optional Tour Costs: $2,200 per person. The costs covers all domestic air fares, land transportation, sightseeing, meals, 4 star hotels. Not including tips and personal expenditures. Subject to exchange rate change.

The sight seeing portion of the trip is optional, and you can still particiapate the sponsored portion of the trade mission without particiapting the sight seeing tour. If you only take part in the Foshan portion of the mission, your only costs will be the international airfare and the costs of your visa to China.

To book airline tickets and apply for Chinese visa please contact Ms. Lulu Liu at:

P. T. S. TRAVEL
4320 STEVENS CREEK BL.175
SAN JOSE, CA  95129

Tel: 408-248-1088  Fax: 408-248-1338

Please click here to download the registration form. Please sign and fax the completed registration form to CTDA directly. Please note, you need to contact the travel agent directly to book your flights and get your visa to China. Click here to download the application form of P.R. China.  

Mission Highlights

China Ceramic Tile Industry: Supplies 12.7% of all U.S. ceramic tile imports 4th largest ceramic tile exporter to U.S. U.S. imports from China increased 53.9% in 2006 Fo Shan accounts for 60% of China's total output Trade Mission: FREE luxurious 5 star hotel while in Fo Shan FREE meals while in Fo Shan FREE Airport and local transportation (excluding personal affairs) FREE sightseeing activities organized by sponsors FREE entertainment activities organized by sponsors Over 170 top Chinese ceramic manufacturers and showrooms Network with top industry leaders Network with peers in the U.S. Organizers and Sponsors: Ceramic Tile Distributors Association (CTDA) China Ceramics City China Ceramics Industry Headquarters U.S. China Ceramic Tile Association Bravura International Corporation China Ceramics City China Ceramics City Phase II, aka, China Ceramics Industry Headquarters Super Imposed Maps of China and U.S.A. Map of China

Sponsored Hotel Information

In Fo Shan the sponsors have arranged accommodations for the mission to stay at the luxurious Fountaine Bleau Hotel, one of the top 10 most Charming Hotels in China.

Its continental European style architecture is in perfect harmony with the magnificent scenery of the surrounding 6 square kilometers of natural forest, providing an extra degree of comfort and tranquility away from the hustle and bustle of the city life.

For more information please visit:

http://www.ftbl-hotel.com

Important Dates:

April 18, 2008 ($500 non-refundable deposit due, after deadline mission open on space available basis).

May 18, 2008 (Total balance Due in full).

Hotel Information:

Shanghai

Vista Holiday Inn 4 Star

Beijing

Tiantan Hotel 4 star

Contact Information:

U.S. China Ceramic Tile Association

Andy Peng

Tel: 408-898-4104

Fax: 408-540-0784

email: apeng@ChinaTiles.org

CTDA

800 Roosevelt Road, Building C, Suite 312
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
U.S.A.

E-mail: info@ctdahome.org
Phone: 1-800-938-CTDA(2832)
Fax: at 630-790-3095

By submitting the registration, you acknowledge your awareness of the inherent risks of international travel, and further agree not to hold the organizers and all of the sponsors and agents from any legal and/or financial liabilities related to this trip or as a result of this trip. The registration does not automatically qualify you for the sponsored trade mission. A staff member of the organizers will contact you soon regarding the registration status. Itinerary subjects to change. All participants are solely responsible for booking the airline tickets to and from China.

The organizers reserve the rights to modify activities, change dates, and or cancel of the trade mission.

Please click here to download the registration form. Please sign and fax the completed registration form to CTDA directly. Please note, you need to contact the travel agent directly to book your flights and get your visa to China. Click here to download the application form of P.R. China.

For privacy reasons we are not able to provide the participants list to anyone, and we can only tell you how many people have signed up.