(Yicai Global) June 20 -- Shanghai has become a major world exhibition host city as its show numbers, areas and other indicators surpassed its global peers.

This was the conclusion of the 2018 White Paper on Shanghai Exhibition & Convention Industry released at the Global Exhibition CEO Shanghai Summit 2019 yesterday.

The eastern Chinese megacity hosted 1,023 exhibitions with a total display area of 18.8 million square meters last year, leading the world's other major host cities. Shanghai organized 23 trade shows approved by the global exhibition industry association UFI, leading its domestic peers, according to the white paper, the Shanghai Observer reported.

The city held 300 international exhibitions with a display area of 14.2 million square meters last year, making up 29 percent of the total number of shows and 75.3 percent of the total exhibition area, per the study.

It held 42 exhibitions with a display area of over 100,000 square meters last year, with six above 300,000 square meters.

The plethora of exhibitions has boosted the local supply sector, according to the white paper. Shanghai boasts almost 200 exhibition service companies.

The world's top 10 exhibition service providers had all set up wholly-owned units or joint ventures in Shanghai by the end of last year. Foreign exhibition service providers were the most active players in the city's exhibition field.

The city had 25 UFI members by the end of last year, ranking it second globally, the white book stated.

Editor: Ben Armour