The 137th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) offline exhibition concluded successfully in Guangzhou on May 5. According to information from the Canton Fair, the number of overseas buyers attending this edition of the Canton Fair reached a new high. As of May 4 (same below), a total of 288,938 overseas buyers from 219 countries and regions attended the event, representing a year-on-year increase of 17.3% compared to the 135th Canton Fair (same below). On-site intended export transactions continued to grow. On-site intended export transactions reached US$25.44 billion, an increase of 3%.
Notably, both new and returning buyers actively participated in the event, with attendance figures reaching 171,750 and 117,188 respectively, representing increases of 14.6% and 21.4%. Emerging markets remain the largest source of attendees at the Canton Fair, with buyers from countries along the Belt and Road Initiative totaling 187,450, up 17.4%, accounting for 64.9% of the total. Buyers from BRICS countries totaled 72,417, up 24.1%. Buyers from RCEP member countries reached 64,808, up 6.9%. Buyers from Europe and the Americas totaled 51,862, up 3.4%. A total of 140 business organizations participated in groups, up 17.6%. The number of leading multinational procurement companies reached 376, setting a new record high.
On-site export transactions continued to grow. On-site export transactions reached US$25.44 billion, an increase of 3%. Countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative accounted for more than 60% of transactions, driving growth, while traditional markets remained stable. Exhibiting companies generally reported that products with good quality and performance, strong innovation, and high brand recognition were more popular, and overseas buyers were eager to place orders, further strengthening companies’ confidence in expanding into diversified markets.
New momentum in foreign trade is accelerating. At this session of the Canton Fair, a large number of new products, technologies, designs, materials, and processes emerged, with green and low-carbon, intelligent products attracting significant attention and becoming a powerful lever for securing orders and expanding markets. Over 4.55 million products were displayed on-site by companies, including 1.02 million new products, 880,000 green and low-carbon products, and 320,000 intelligent products. The newly established service robotics zone attracted significant attention, with 46 leading domestic robotics companies showcasing over 500 types of robots across 60 specialized fields. Companies received an average of over 300 visitors per day. The Canton Fair Design Innovation Award (CF Award) exhibition hall showcased 147 award-winning products, attracting over 40,000 visitors.
Import exhibition companies reaped rich rewards. A total of 736 companies from 50 countries and regions participated in the import exhibition at this year’s Canton Fair, with companies from countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative accounting for 67% of the total. Many internationally renowned companies showcased smart manufacturing and high-quality home consumer products, attracting the attention of domestic and foreign buyers. Companies from Russia, Thailand, Turkey, and other countries said they reaped rich rewards, reaching preliminary cooperation agreements with many domestic buyers, and their products are expected to quickly enter the Chinese market.
The online platform is running smoothly. A total of 527,185 overseas buyers from 229 countries and regions participated in this session of the Canton Fair online. The cumulative number of visits to exhibitors’ stores reached 4.3737 million. The Canton Fair app has been upgraded with two versions tailored for buyers and suppliers, respectively. The app’s functions have been further optimized to achieve full-chain digitalization from itinerary planning to customer follow-up. It enables 365-day trade matching to continuously activate potential collaborations. The app has been downloaded over 320,000 times, making it a true “online customer acquisition tool and offline exhibition assistant.”
Trade promotion activities were practical and efficient. This session of the Canton Fair, in line with current international trade trends and corporate needs, hosted a total of 1,206 trade promotion events, helping companies stay informed about market trends and expand their markets. A total of 438 new product launch events were held, creating new scenarios for the first-to-market economy. Offline launch events attracted over 6,000 buyers, while online launch events were viewed by over 1.5 million people. A total of 734 “Trade Bridge” trade promotion series events were held, with over 4,000 participants from domestic and international business organizations, buyers, and suppliers. Fifteen “Haobao and Haoni Explore the Canton Fair” events were held, with over 5.5 million online viewers. In collaboration with high-end think tanks, industry associations, and relevant institutions, 19 industry forum events were held focusing on cutting-edge issues in international trade, attracting approximately 2,600 attendees. Eleven cutting-edge and trend-oriented reports were released, including the “China Foreign Trade Logistics Development Report” and the “Consumer Electronics Overseas Market Opportunity Insights White Paper.” During this session of the Canton Fair, the launch ceremony for the “Foreign Trade Excellence China Tour” Guangdong Guangzhou Station was also held, providing a platform for foreign trade enterprises to expand domestic sales.
Intellectual property rights protect innovative development. This year’s Canton Fair continued to uphold high standards in intellectual property protection and trade dispute resolution, creating a favorable trading environment and protecting the innovative development of enterprises. A total of 356 companies were involved in intellectual property complaints received online and offline, with 169 companies ultimately found to be suspected of infringement. A total of 25 trade disputes were received and mediated, with 19 cases reaching a settlement. Three applications for exhibition certificates were received.
Comprehensive support services are provided with care and attention to detail. This edition of the Canton Fair has further optimized its service measures to enhance the overall experience for exhibitors and buyers. The trade support service points have introduced 153 companies, offering a full range of trade services including financial insurance, logistics and warehousing, and testing and certification. The Canton Fair Product Design and Trade Promotion Center (PDC) has welcomed 44 domestic and international design companies, serving approximately 5,300 clients. The fair continues to implement 100% green setup and dismantling, organizes green and beautiful booth selection activities, conducts national standard promotion work, and continues to promote the green development of the fair. The certificate issuance service for this edition of the Canton Fair was further improved, with a total of 751,000 certificates issued, of which approximately 60% of overseas buyers obtained their certificates through self-service printing. The number of visitors entering the venue reached 2.544 million, with 45,000 vehicles entering the venue. Three covered walkways were constructed to connect the venue with two nearby subway stations, providing a more comfortable experience for exhibitors and buyers. Catering services were provided for 1.32 million people, with optimized layout of dining areas and full-venue delivery services to meet the diverse dining needs of exhibitors and visitors. The Canton Fair Music and Food Festival debuted the “Eat in Guangzhou Carnival” series of activities, creating an immersive experience combining Guangdong cuisine, music, and culture, allowing domestic and international buyers to appreciate the unique charm of Chinese culture beyond business transactions.
Notably, this edition of the Canton Fair actively supported the national strategy to stabilize foreign trade. In addition to waiving booth fees for zones dedicated to rural revitalization and other sectors, the fair offered a 50% reduction in booth fees for export-oriented exhibitors. These measures demonstrated the Canton Fair’s commitment to helping enterprises better navigate external risks and challenges, reflecting its role as China’s premier trade exhibition. The initiative has received widespread praise from businesses and society at large.
According to reports, following the conclusion of this session of the Canton Fair, the Canton Fair online platform will continue to operate on a year-round basis. We welcome all exhibitors and buyers to continue their attention. Applications for booths at the 138th Canton Fair Export Exhibition have commenced as of May 1. We encourage all enterprises to apply for booths through official channels. The 138th Canton Fair will be held in Guangzhou from October 15 to November 4, divided into three phases. We look forward to reuniting during the golden autumn season.
