International Buyer Program Select Recruits Buyers and Supports U.S. Exhibitors at the National RV Trade Show
December 28, 2016ITA’s International Buyer Program SELECT once again supported the National RV Trade Show in Louisville, KY, Nov. 28 – Dec. 1, 2016. The Program helps promote the show to target markets in an effort to draw pre-screened foreign buyers to meet with U.S. exhibitors at the event. The National RV Show is an industry- only event, organized by the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA), which features approximately 900 motorhomes and travel trailers by 50 manufacturers and over 200 supplier exhibits. This year, the show drew over 7,600 attendees, including RV dealers, manufacturers and suppliers. Through the IBP Select Program, ITA promoted the show internationally and recruited 73 international buyers to meet with U.S. exhibitors.
As an International Buyer Program (IBP) Select event, the National RV Trade Show also was a platform for promoting U.S. exports bringing international buyers from China (32), Korea (23), Italy (3), and the United Kingdom (6) for business-to-business matchmaking with U.S. firms exhibiting at the show. Buyer delegations also came from Peru (6) and Colombia (3). Delegates met with U.S. exhibitors and purchased RV models displayed on the show floor.
During the show, staff from ITA and the U.S. Export-Import (EXIM) Bank gave presentations on “Why Exporting Matters to the RV Industry” and “Creative Ways to Finance Your RV Exports.” The seminar included presentations by Industry & Analysis’ Charlie Rast (Office of Consumer Goods) on RV industry top global markets, Jessica Son (Commercial Service – Seoul, Korea) on the RV market in Korea, Jessica Tan (Commercial Service – Beijing, China) on the RV market in China, Mark Cooper (Commercial Service – Indianapolis, IN) on export strategic planning, and Mark Klein (EXIM Bank) on export financing.
The U.S. RV industry is currently experiencing record growth, as RV sales have been their strongest in nearly four decades. According to RVIA, RV shipments, which include motorhomes and travel trailers, are expected to total 419,500 in 2016. This represents an increase of more than 12 percent over the previous year, and 438,100 in 2017. U.S. companies are the largest manufacturers of RVs globally, producing more than twice as many RVs annually compared to the rest of the world combined. The RV industry is a significant sector within the recreational transportation industry and was profiled in ITA’s 2016 Top Markets report.
The International Trade Administration is now accepting applications for the International Buyer Program (IBP) and IBP SELECT service for trade events taking place between January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018. Click here for details regarding the application, eligibility, participation requirements, and selection process.
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