More Than 80,000 Overseas Buyers Attend Canton Fair Opening as Chinese Exporters Seek New Markets

More than 80,000 overseas buyers attended the opening day of China's 140th Import and Export Fair, commonly known as the Canton Fair, as Chinese manufacturers sought new international customers amid intensifying competition and uncertainty in global trade.

The fair opened in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on October 15. According to CCTV+, more than 80,000 overseas buyers attended on the first day, meeting exhibitors and exploring products ranging from household equipment to industrial and technology-related goods.

The event is particularly significant this year because it marks the 70th anniversary of the Canton Fair, one of China's longest-running platforms for connecting domestic exporters with overseas buyers. The 140th session is scheduled to run from October 15 to November 4 in three phases, according to the official Canton Fair website.

The fair's first phase focuses on advanced manufacturing, including electronics, machinery, vehicles and industrial equipment. Later phases will cover home products, gifts, consumer goods and other categories. The format gives international buyers an opportunity to compare suppliers and evaluate products across a broad range of industries within a single venue.

The event comes as China continues to benefit from strong export demand but faces mounting scrutiny from some trading partners over the scale of its trade surplus and the competitiveness of its manufacturing sector. Exporters are therefore looking not only to increase sales but also to diversify their customer base, develop products for specific markets and strengthen relationships with overseas distributors.

A report from China Daily highlighted the prominence of technology-driven products at the fair. One visitor with a high-level mobility impairment was able to walk with the assistance of a robotic exoskeletal device, illustrating how manufacturers are using engineering and automation to address practical needs.

The report said 64% of the 32,000 participating companies were using technologies such as artificial intelligence and the industrial internet. That figure points to the increasing role of digital systems and advanced engineering across China's export industries, although the technologies and their commercial applications vary significantly from one sector to another.

For overseas buyers, the attraction of the Canton Fair lies in more than product variety. Meeting manufacturers directly can help importers assess quality, discuss customization, negotiate prices and explore delivery arrangements. Suppliers, meanwhile, can gather feedback from customers and adapt products to local regulations, consumer preferences and technical requirements.

A buyer from Dubai told CCTV+ that his business sourced split air-conditioning units and had received positive feedback from customers after attending the fair. Such accounts illustrate the role of trade exhibitions in maintaining commercial relationships, although individual testimonials do not necessarily represent the experience of all buyers.

Chinese manufacturers are also adapting products for specific export markets. China Daily reported that one exhibitor had developed an air-conditioning product intended for European consumers that could be installed without professional installation or drilling. Market-specific product development can help exporters compete beyond price, particularly in crowded consumer and appliance markets.

Nevertheless, a strong opening-day turnout does not guarantee that every exhibitor will secure orders or that all deals will translate into completed shipments. Buyers must still assess product quality, compliance requirements, shipping costs, payment terms and the financial reliability of suppliers.

The fair also operates in a more complicated international environment than in earlier decades. Trade barriers, logistics costs and geopolitical tensions can affect decisions about where goods are manufactured and sold. Chinese exporters may need to demonstrate greater flexibility in design, after-sales service and compliance as governments review trade policies.

For China's broader economy, the Canton Fair remains an important indicator of the country's links with overseas markets. Its long-term significance will depend on whether commercial contacts lead to sustainable orders, more diversified export destinations and products that can compete on quality and innovation as well as price.