350 containers per month 90% from China!
If anyone wants a glimpse of the dynamism of the Chinese economy, then he can come to the Canton Fair.
The 134th Canton Fair, now being held in Guangzhou, China, is like a miniature “global village” : people from all over the world walk through the booths of various products, some are scrutinizing the goods and asking about the situation; Some people put their favorite sample into the trolley box they carry with them; Someone placed an order on the spot, sat down and signed a contract with a supplier…
Since 1957, the Canton Fair has been held twice a year without interruption and is known as “China’s first Exhibition”.
In the first Canton Fair, only 13 companies participated, and buyers came from 19 countries and regions. 67 years later, the Canton Fair has more than 28,000 exhibitors and buyers from more than 200 countries and regions around the world.
Behind the growing strength of the Canton Fair is the development of the Chinese economy and the increasingly close economic and trade ties between China and the world.
“Nothing can’t be bought, only can’t think.” Zhu Zhiwei, a buyer from Indonesia, has participated in nearly 40 Canton Fairs, and this is his most intuitive impression.
Zhu Zhiwei is the purchasing director of Indonesian retail giant Changyou Group, and China is the main source of his imports. The group imports nearly 350 containers of goods a month, 90% of which come from China.
“There are many exhibitions around the world, but the Canton Fair is the one we value the most.” “It’s a one-stop shop for everything from a toothbrush to a car,” he said.
“China is a manufacturing power with all industrial categories, and the Canton Fair is a concentrated demonstration of the whole industrial chain of Chinese manufacturing.” Chu Shijia, director of the China Foreign Trade Center, said that the Canton Fair has 55 exhibition areas, and the products on display cover the whole chain of Chinese-made products.
Walking into the sanitary products exhibition area of the Canton Fair, you can find a bathroom wash table with a price as low as 9.9 US dollars, and you can also see the expensive smart bathtub.
In the exhibition area of Guangdong Jushi Pool Spa Equipment Co., LTD., bathtub products with massage, swimming, filtration and other functions have attracted buyers from all over the world. “We’re off to a great start!” Yu Zelong, chairman of the board, said that one of the company’s new smart swimming bathtub products was taken by Dutch buyers on the first day of development, and an exclusive agency contract was signed on the spot.
“We are a 30-year company that has been attending for 20 years. The fair gives us a platform to go global.” Most of the company’s partners in North America and Western Europe grew out of the Canton Fair, he said.
Over the years, the Canton Fair has been an important channel for many Chinese enterprises to explore overseas markets. Many companies got to know the first buyer and signed the first order here.
Nowadays, with the rise of various exhibitions in China and the continuous expansion of foreign trade channels, the Canton Fair is no longer the only channel for enterprises to obtain overseas orders, but it still plays an important role in the world trade stage, and gradually develops into a multi-functional comprehensive trade platform.
“In addition to developing new customers, we are also looking forward to meeting and chatting with old customers, and we also hope to learn more about market needs through the Canton Fair.” Ceramic production enterprise Shandong Yinfeng Co., LTD. General manager Chen Zukun said.
Oskarsson, CEO of Iceland X18 Company, has participated in more than 40 consecutive Canton Fair sessions, although the company has set up an office in China, he still flew tens of thousands of kilometers from Iceland to Guangzhou.
“If you want to do business, you have to know what’s going on, and the Canton Fair is a place to learn about the latest technology and get the latest information.” ‘he said.
The Canton Fair provides a platform for trade and exchange between enterprises all over the world.
Lin Caizhen, deputy manager of South Korea Eight Star Co., LTD., is responsible for the exhibition agent work of South Korean enterprises, and the Korean enterprises he brought won nearly 70 booths at the Canton Fair, exhibiting cosmetics, personal care products, building materials, food, health products and other specialty products.
“It’s not just selling to China, it’s selling to the world.” “Through the Canton Fair, companies can reach every corner of the world,” he said.
Enterprises from 43 countries and regions participated in the Canton Fair. Since 2007, the Canton Fair has set up import exhibitions to provide opportunities for enterprises from various countries and regions around the world. According to the History of the Canton Fair Exhibition Hall, as of the 133rd Canton Fair in 2023, more than 16,000 enterprises from more than 100 countries and regions have participated in the import fair.
Chu said that the gathering of enterprises from various countries at the Canton Fair shows that the demand of the world market is recovering and the desire of countries to develop economic and trade relations with China is growing. “The Canton Fair will continue to connect China with the world, ensure the stability and smooth flow of the global industrial chain and supply chain, and contribute to the well-being of people around the world.”