The first edition of XpoChem held in the Seoul Trade Exhibition Centre in Korea, for two days, from 15 to 16 November 2004 was a huge success.

Official figures show that XpoChem 2004 attracted 74 exhibitors from 9 countries and regions, including China, India, France, Japan, Taiwan, UK, USA and Vietnam, with a total of 44 exhibitors from overseas. The total number of visitors was 3,217, of which 12% of them were international visitors from 17 countries and regions including China, Germany, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, UK, USA and Vietnam.

The fair was organized by CMP Media Korea Co Ltd, the domestic corporation of CMP, a leading trade fair organiser in Asia. XpoChem was strongly supported by the Ministry of Health & Welfare, the Korea Food & Drug Administration, the Korea Specialty Chemical Industry Association and the Korea Pharmaceutical Traders Association. The event was also sponsored by the China Chamber of Commerce of Medicines & Health Products Imports & Exports and the Taiwan Chemical Industry Association.

Numerous VIPs from the industry attended the opening ceremony, including Kim, Chung-Suk, Commissioner of the Korea Food and Drug Administration, Chung, Seung-Hwan, Chairman of the Korea Pharmaceutical Traders Association, Kwon, Young-Hoo, Director of the Korea Specialty Chemical Industry Association, Cui, Bin, Deputy Secretary General of the China Chamber of Commerce of Medicines & Health Products Importers & exporters, Subhash Majithia, Vice-Chairman of CHEMEXCIL, Christopher Eve, Senior Vice-President of CMP Asia Ltd.

The major products on display among the exhibits were ingredients and intermediates for pharmaceuticals recording 48.6%, followed by contract manufacturing at 32.4%, and ingredients and Intermediates for dye and pigment at 20.2%, additives18.9%, organic chemicals18.9%, ingredients and intermediates for agrochemicals 13.5%, ingredients and intermediates for surfactants 10.8%, laboratories 10.8%, inorganic chemicals 8.1%, cosmetics ingredients 8.1%, catalysts 6.7%, bio-chemicals 5.4%, ink and paint chemicals 4.0%, ingredients and intermediates for adhesives 2.7%, flavours and fragrances 2.7%, and photographic chemicals 1.3%. (Because exhibitors deal with several products, the total of percentage exceed 100%).

A breakdown of the visitors reveals the high quality of the event, with executives with decision-making authority accounting for 26% of the total number of visitors, followed by executive officials accounting for 37%, researchers 12%, general staff 23%, and others 2%. A breakdown by area of product interest reveals bio-chemicals 23%, additives 12%, and pharmaceuticals 10%. This shows a good balance of interest between fine & specialty chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

By the end of the show half of the exhibitors had already reserved their space in XpoChem 2005, ample proof that exhibitors were satisfied with the fair, especially the smooth management of the show as an international market place and the professional organisations of the event. XpoChem 2004 featured international pavilions from China and India as well as an additional pavilion from UK.

Co-organized with the Korea Specialty Chemical Industry Association and the Korea Pharmaceutical Traders Association, the XpoChem Conference 2004 was held in two halls at the SETEC exhibition center and comprised of a total of 19 sessions in two tracks by famous speakers from domestic and overseas in Korean and English. The conference attracted over 200 experts and won a success in high interests of both, industry and academy as a professional conference offering the information on new technologies and trends of this industry.

Official media support was provided by the Chemical Daily, the leading newspaper for the chemical industry of Japan, and Chronicle Pharmabiz of India.

CMP Media Korea Co Ltd, the organiser of this event is the Korean corporation of CMP, a leading trade fair organiser. CMP is one of the affiliates of United Business Media plc, a leading provider of business information services and a multinational media enterprise based on UK.