The 139th Canton Fair Sets New Record for Foreign Buyer Attendance
Guangzhou, China (ANTARA) - The 139th Canton Fair officially closed on 5 May, recording a new record in the number of foreign buyer attendees. Data from the China Foreign Trade Centre indicates that over the 15 days and three phases of the event, the fair received a record 314,000 foreign buyers from 220 countries and regions who came to explore opportunities at China’s “Number One Fair”.
The event covered an area of around 1.55 million square metres with 75,700 exhibition booths. More than 32,000 exhibitors participated, including about 3,900 first-time participants. Over 4.65 million products were displayed; new products, eco-friendly products, and products with independent intellectual property rights accounted for 23%, 22%, and 25% of the total displayed products respectively — reflecting the “new, green, and smart” direction of “Made in China” and “Made in Guangdong”.
During the fair, the organisers held more than 600 new product launch events. The number of new products introduced increased by 27%, while the number of events related to emerging future industries rose by 30%. The fair also featured AI-based scenarios for the first time, including robot patrol inspections and drone flight demonstrations.
Nine new specialised exhibition zones were established for this edition. Phase I showcased zones for consumer drones, agricultural drones, smart wearable devices, and display technology. Phase II introduced zones for bamboo and wood household products and tableware, integrated housing and outdoor facilities, as well as trendy accessories. Phase III added a zone for functional and technical fabrics. Nearly 670 companies participated in these specialised zones, setting up more than 1,300 booths and displaying innovative developments across various industries.
Guangdong Province has started the year with strong performance in foreign trade. In the first quarter, import and export volume, national share, incremental growth, and contribution rate all ranked first in China. Export value reached 1.53 trillion yuan, up 14.3%, while imports reached 1.01 trillion yuan, up 27.8%. Import growth was broad-based, led by the “three olds” — mobile phones, computers, and household appliances — as well as clothing and bags. At the same time, the province also promoted the development of the “three news”: exports of 3D printers, drones, and digital cameras increased by 136.9%, 51.2%, and 60.2% respectively. These products, representing new quality productive forces, have received widespread acclaim in the global market. Exports of own brands increased by 38%, raising their share of Guangdong’s total first-quarter export value to 26.6%.
As an important window for China’s opening up and a barometer of its foreign trade, the Canton Fair has evolved alongside China’s economic growth over more than 70 years of history. The successful closure of this edition complements Guangdong’s strong start in foreign trade. Many Guangdong companies utilised the Canton Fair platform to interact directly with global buyers and secure international orders, helping Guangdong maintain its top national position in foreign trade scale. Conversely, Guangdong’s rapid development continues to inject vitality into the Canton Fair. The province’s strong industrial base, complete supply chains, and innovative products and technologies as a major trading hub continually support the fair’s global influence.
Source: Guangdong Provincial People’s Government