Exhibitions - Messe Stuttgart records decline in profits
Despite the lifted Corona restrictions, the revenue of Stuttgart Trade Fair 2023 was significantly lower. Co-Managing Director Roland Bleinroth stated in Stuttgart that the expectations for 2023 were "even more critical" given the challenging market conditions. The pre-tax profit, according to the statement, was approximately 700,000 Euro, compared to 6.6 million Euro in the previous year. No statements were made about how much was left below the line.
"It was a year that still suffered greatly from Corona aftereffects and of course even more so from the Ukraine war, energy price shock, and Germany being in a recession," said Bleinroth. The turnover increased by around 5.6 million to 128.3 million Euro compared to 2022. However, the turnover remained below the pre-Corona level: In 2018, the revenue was around 188 million Euro, and the pre-tax profit was 34.7 million Euro. In 2019, the turnover was 134.2 million Euro, and the profit was 9.8 million Euro.
According to the statements, around 16,000 exhibitors and exhibitors were present in 2023, which was approximately 6,000 fewer than in 2019. On-site, they encountered roughly 1.1 million visitors and visitors, around 93,000 fewer than in the pre-Corona year.
For the current year, the trade fair is reportedly generating a turnover of 220.3 million Euro and a profit of 40.1 million Euro. Bleinroth stated that the calendar for 2024 is "crowded." On the one hand, it is a leap year, and leap years typically have fewer shows due to the two-year rhythm of some fairs. Additionally, there are several fairs with a three-year cycle and fairs that were postponed due to the pandemic. "This leads to the fact that we actually expect a record result this year," said Bleinroth. "And no, that won't continue in 2025." The following year is expected to be "weak" for the fair, added the managing director.
- Despite the decline in profits and the challenging market conditions due to the Coronavirus, Ukraine war, energy price shock, and Germany's recession, some Baden-Württemberg fairs managed to show resilience, such as the increase in turnover at Stuttgart Trade Fair.
- The Quarterly figures for Stuttgart Trade Fair 2023 revealed a turnover of approximately 128.3 million Euro, a decline compared to the pre-Coronavirus level of around 188 million Euro in 2018.
- Despite the lower revenue and less than half of the pre-Coronavirus profit, the 2023 Stuttgart Trade Fair still attracted around 16,000 exhibitors and exhibitors, although less than in the pre-Corona year of 2019.
- The Coronavirus pandemic and its aftereffects, as well as other global challenges, have had a significant impact on fairs across the world, including the decline in profits and turnover at Stuttgart Trade Fair in Ukraine, causing concerns about future fairs in Baden-Württemberg.
