The Canton Fair attracted more than 130,000 overseas buyers from 211 countries and regions, a 4.6% increase compared with the previous session. The first phase of the 136th Canton Fair ended on October 21. Among the attendees, more than 90,000 buyers were from countries and regions participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), accounting for 69.7% of the total and showing a 6.8% year-on-year increase. Additionally, about 24,000 buyers from Europe and the U.S. accounted for 18.1% of attendees, up 4.8% year-on-year, while the number of Middle Eastern buyers surged by 44.2% year-on-year to reach about 20,000. All exhibitors at the fair also showcased their products online, uploading 800,000 items for display, while the online segment attracted 343,000 overseas visitors.
The steady growth in overseas attendance aligns with the trend of rising Chinese exports this year. Despite challenges from global trade fragmentation, demand for Chinese products remains strong worldwide, He Weiwen, Senior Fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, told the Global Times. The growing number of international buyers at the Canton Fair showed that China's economy has become deeply integrated with the global economy, and its exports remain competitive, He said. Reflecting on the fair's evolution, He noted that the products displayed at the Canton Fair mirrored China's economic progress. “Previously, the fair mostly showcased traditional crafts and basic industrial products. Over time, electromechanical products became more prominent, and now, even such items are considered conventional. China's export offerings have significantly advanced in technology,” He said.
The first phase of this year's Canton Fair was focused on advanced manufacturing, with a spotlight on new quality productive forces and digital, intelligent and green products. Of the 11,165 exhibiting companies, about 3,600 focused on digital technology and intelligent manufacturing, with 57.8% adopting big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and the industrial internet to upgrade their supply chains. The positive momentum of the Canton Fair is promising for its future role in supporting Chinese export companies in consolidating existing markets and exploring new ones, He added, as reported by the Global Times.
Around 390,000 digital and smart products are being showcased during the 136th Canton Fair, a 300% surge compared to the previous edition, while the number of green and low-carbon products has risen 130% to over 1.04 million, said the fair’s organizer. Collectively, exports of China’s “new trio” – namely electric vehicles, lithium batteries and photovoltaic products – totaled CNY757.83 billion in the first nine months, accounting for 4.1% of the country’s total exports.
Xu Jiadong, Sales Manager of Skymen Technology Corp, said, “We have seen an increased number of buyers, especially those from emerging markets such as the Middle East and Southeast-Asia, visiting our exhibition booth during the fair, showing interest in buying advanced ultrasonic cleaning products.” The Shenzhen, Guangdong province-based company’s overseas sales steadily increased in the first nine months of this year, reaching more than CNY60 million, Xu said. To meet the increased demand for advanced and intelligent ultrasonic cleaning products in overseas markets, the company launched its manufacturing base in Shaoguan, Guangdong, in late 2023.
The second phase of the fair was held last week with 10,040 Chinese exhibitors showcasing household items, gifts and decorations, building materials and furniture. Spanning three phases, with both online and on-site exhibitions, the fair will run until November 4, the China Daily adds.