The world's largest trade fair for consumer electronics and household appliances IFA ended Wednesday in Berlin with orders placed for more than 3.7 billion euros, an increase of 6 percent over last year.

The consumer electronics market has registered a significant deterioration in the first half of 2011 with sales in Western Europe having declined 11.3 percent, according to the Nuremberg-based market research company GfK Group.

However, this year's IFA has set many new records, much to the industry's satisfaction.

The IFA attracted 1,441 exhibitors this year, who displayed their latest products in an area of over 140,000 square meters, with both the number of exhibitors and the size of the exhibition area reaching record highs.

Moreover, during the six-day event, the IFA welcomed about 238,000 visitors, a 3-percent increase over last year.

"Once again developments at IFA were very satisfactory, and we can look brightly into the future," Christian Goeke, chief operating officer of Messe Berlin, said.

"Trade visitor numbers rose to 132,900, an increase of 12 percent, which was much higher than last year. Fifty-one thousand and two hundred came from abroad, almost twice as many as in 2010," Goeke said.

"Overall we are very satisfied with the volume of orders placed. Initial forecasts suggest that IFA-related business will total more than 3.7 million euros," Hans-Joachim Kamp, chairman of IFA organizer GFU, said.

Products like Smart TV, Tablets and 3D equipment were the highlights of this year's IFA. Smart and energy-efficient home appliances also attracted many visitors.

Market researchers expect the consumer electronics market will grow to 690 billion euros in 2011, an increase of about 7 percent. Meanwhile, the home appliance industry also expects an increasing global demand this year.