Asia-Pacific Sourcing

Attendees, exhibitors & solutions

Who this event is for

Industry trends

Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.

Market news

Latest updates from across the market.

Hotel tiers

A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.

Local transport

Get around the city with these convenient transport options.

Frequently asked

Glossary

1

APS

Common abbreviation for Asia-Pacific Sourcing, the Asia-Pacific sourcing fair held at Koelnmesse in Cologne. The 2027 edition runs 9-11 March 2027.

2

Koelnmesse

Cologne's trade fairground and organiser site next to the Köln Messe/Deutz rail station, host venue for Asia-Pacific Sourcing.

3

Köln Messe/Deutz

The main rail station serving Koelnmesse, linked to Cologne Bonn Airport and to central Cologne by S-Bahn and regional trains.

4

MOQ (minimum order quantity)

The smallest order volume a supplier will accept on a given item. It is one of the first numbers sourcing teams negotiate at APS when moving from a sample request to a container-scale order, and it usually shifts as quantities and tooling commitments grow.

5

OEM (original equipment manufacturer)

A manufacturer that builds a product to the buyer's specification and brand. Asia-Pacific Sourcing exhibitors typically offer OEM programmes alongside their own catalogues, which is why European buyers bring artwork, packaging specs and target cost sheets to the stand.

6

ODM (original design manufacturer)

A manufacturer that supplies a finished, already-designed product which a buyer can rebrand. Useful when a European retailer wants a tested product quickly instead of funding a full development cycle.

7

Private label

Retailer-owned branding applied to a supplier-made product. It is a core conversation at a sourcing fair, because factory-direct private-label supply is how European chains differentiate shelf ranges without owning factories.

8

FOB and CIF (Incoterms)

Delivery terms that fix where cost and risk move from seller to buyer. FOB Free On Board covers goods loaded on the vessel at the export port; CIF Cost, Insurance and Freight adds main-carriage freight and insurance to the destination port. Comparing quotes on different terms is a common source of landed-cost errors.

9

Incoterms

The International Commercial Terms published by the ICC that define delivery, risk and cost split between buyer and seller. Buyers sourcing in Asia usually state their preferred Incoterm (often FOB or CIF) before price comparisons are meaningful.

10

Sourcing agent / buying office

An intermediary that finds, audits, consolidates and quality-checks Asian suppliers on behalf of European buyers. Buying offices walk fairs such as APS to keep factory contacts, capacity and pricing current.

11

Product segments at Asia-Pacific Sourcing

The fair groups Asia-Pacific suppliers by product category, typically covering hardware and DIY, housewares and home improvement, and garden and outdoor ranges. Confirm the current segment list and hall plan on the organiser site before planning your route.

12

Trade visitor / trade-only admission

APS is a business fair, so admission normally requires proof of a trade role such as retailer, importer, distributor, brand or buying office. Confirm the current admission and credential policy with the organiser before you travel.

13

VRS and KVB

VRS is the Rhine-Sieg transport network that sets zone fares around Cologne, and KVB operates the city's light rail and bus services. A single VRS ticket covers the short S-Bahn hop from Cologne Bonn Airport to Köln Messe/Deutz by the fairground.