The 137th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) concluded successfully in Guangzhou on May 5. Zhou Shanqing, Director of the Canton Fair Press Center and Deputy Director of China Foreign Trade Centre, briefed Chinese and international media on the event’s overall performance.
This year’s Canton Fair thoroughly implemented the spirit of President Xi Jinping’s important congratulatory letter and implemented the arrangements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council for stabilizing foreign trade. Under the leadership of the Ministry of Commerce and Guangdong Province, and through the joint efforts of relevant ministries and commissions, local commercial authorities, overseas institutions and all participants, many indicators set new historical records and achieved the goals of being wonderful, successful, safe and honest. It has made positive contributions to promoting the steady growth and quality of foreign trade and injected new impetus into the development of global trade.
Record High Attendance of Overseas Buyers at Canton Fair
As of May 4, the fair attracted 288,938 overseas buyers from 219 countries and regions, marking a 17.3% increase compared to the 135th session. Both new (171,750, up 14.6%) and returning buyers (117,188, up 21.4%) showed strong participation.
Emerging markets remained the largest source of attendees, with 187,450 buyers from Belt and Road countries (up 17.4%, 64.9% of total). Other key figures:
- BRICS countries: 72,417 buyers (↑24.1%)
- RCEP members: 64,808 buyers (↑6.9%)
- Europe & US: 51,862 buyers (↑3.4%)
On-site Export Intentions Hit $25.44 Billion with 3% Growth
- Live export intentions reached US$25.44 billion, up 3% from the previous session. Orders from Belt and Road countries accounted for over 60%, serving as the key growth driver, while demand from traditional markets remained stable.
- Exhibitors reported strong interest in high-quality, innovative, and branded products, with overseas buyers showing active purchasing intent. This trend has further boosted companies’ confidence in expanding into diversified global markets.
New Foreign Trade Momentum Gains Steam
The 135th Canton Fair showcased a surge of cutting-edge innovations, with green, low-carbon and smart products emerging as key drivers for order growth and market expansion. Exhibitors displayed:
✅ 4.55 million+ products (including 1.02 million new launches)
✅ 880,000 green/low-carbon solutions
✅ 320,000 smart tech items
The debut Service Robotics Zone became a major highlight, featuring:
🤖 500+ robots across 60 specialties by 46 top Chinese manufacturers
📈 300+ daily buyer engagements per exhibitor
The Canton Fair Design Awards (CF Awards) Gallery drew 40,000+ visits to showcase 147 award-winning innovations.
Import Exhibition Delivers Strong Results
The 137th Canton Fair’s Import Section featured 736 exhibitors from 50 countries/regions, with 67% from Belt and Road partner nations. Global brands showcased:
🔧 Smart manufacturing solutions
🏠 Premium home & consumer goods
Key highlights:
• Russian, Thai & Turkish pavilions reported exceptional buyer engagement
• Multiple preliminary deals signed with Chinese buyers
• Products set for fast-track entry into Chinese market
Online Platform Sees Steady Growth
The Canton Fair’s digital platform attracted 527,185 overseas buyers from 229 countries and regions, with exhibitor stores receiving 4.37 million visits.
Key upgrades to the Canton Fair APP (now with separate buyer/supplier versions) include:
• End-to-end digital tools from itinerary planning to post-event analytics
• 365-day matchmaking service to activate potential partnerships
• 320,000+ cumulative downloads – proving itself as:
🛒 “An essential online business development tool”
🤝 “A must-have companion for offline exhibitions”
Practical and Effective Trade Promotion Initiatives
The 135th Canton Fair hosted 1,206 trade promotion events addressing current international trade trends and business needs, empowering companies to navigate market shifts and expand globally. Key highlights:
🌟 New Product Launches
• 438 debut events creating “first-release economy” opportunities
• Attracted 6,000+ onsite buyers and 1.5 million+ online views
🌉 “Trade Bridge” Series
• 734 matchmaking events with 4,000+ participants including global trade organizations and businesses
📱 “Discover Canton Fair” Livestreams
• 15 sessions garnering 5.5 million+ views
💡 Industry Forums & Reports
• 19 expert-led forums on cutting-edge trade topics (2,600+ attendees)
• Released 11 trendsetting reports including:
- China Foreign Trade Logistics Development Report
- Consumer Electronics Global Market Opportunity Whitepaper
🛍️ “Quality Exports Tour” Launch
• Guangzhou kickoff event creating platforms for export-to-domestic sales transition
IP Protection Safeguards Innovation
The 137th Canton Fair maintained high-standard IP protection and trade dispute resolution to ensure fair business practices and foster innovation. Key enforcement results:
🛡️ IPR Protection
• 356 exhibitors investigated for alleged violations
• 169 cases confirmed as infringement
⚖️ Trade Dispute Resolution
• 25 commercial disputes mediated
• 19 cases successfully settled
📄 Exhibition Certification
• Processed 3 display certification requests
Comprehensive Services Ensure Seamless Experience
The 137th Canton Fair enhanced all-round service upgrades to optimize participant experience:
🛎️ Trade Support Services
• 153 service providers offering end-to-end solutions (finance, logistics, certification)
• Product Design & Trade Promotion Center (PDC): 44 design firms | 5,300+ consultations
♻️ Green Initiatives
• 100% eco-friendly booth construction/dismantling
• Green exhibition standards promotion & awards
🆔 Efficient Access Management
• 751,000+ badges issued (60% self-printed by overseas buyers)
• 2.544 million visits | 45,000 vehicles processed
• 3 covered walkways linking metro stations
🍽️ Dining & Cultural Experience
• 1.32 million meals served with venue-wide delivery
• Debut “Canton Food Carnival” featuring:
- Authentic Guangdong cuisine
- Live music performances
- Immersive cultural showcases
This year’s Canton Fair actively served the country’s deployment to stabilize foreign trade. In addition to the rural revitalization and other exhibition areas (special areas) where booth fees were waived, booth fees for export exhibition exhibitors were reduced by 50%. Practical actions were taken to help companies better respond to external risks and challenges, demonstrating the mission of “China’s No. 1 Exhibition” and receiving praise from companies and all sectors of society.
This year’s Canton Fair has received great attention from Chinese and foreign media, with 1,831 journalists from 228 media attending the event. All major media have carefully planned and organized the event, and carried out all-round publicity and coverage of the Canton Fair, creating a good public opinion atmosphere for the splendid and successful holding of the Canton Fair.
After the closing of this Canton Fair, the online platform of the Canton Fair will continue to operate normally throughout the year. We welcome exhibitors and visitors to continue to pay attention. The booth application work for the 138th Canton Fair Export Exhibition has started on May 1st. All enterprises are requested to apply for booths through official channels.
The 138th Canton Fair will be held in three phases in Guangzhou from October 15 to November 4. We look forward to seeing you again in the golden autumn.
Source: China Foreign Trade Center
