The 137th Canton Fair ended successfully with an increase in buyer attendance and export transactions, and new, stronger drivers of foreign trade
The on-site exhibition of the 137th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) successfully concluded in Guangzhou on 5 May. Zhou Shanqing, Director General of the Canton Fair Press Centre and Deputy Director General of the China Foreign Trade Centre, explained the overall operation of this session to the national and international press.
The 137th Canton Fair implemented the guidelines of President Xi Jinping's congratulatory letters and the decisions and provisions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. Under the leadership of the Ministry of Commerce and Guangdong Province, and thanks to the joint efforts of relevant ministries, local trade departments, Chinese diplomatic and consular missions and all staff, the fair set numerous new records and achieved the goal of excellence, success, safety and integrity, helping to stabilise the size and improve the quality of foreign trade and give new impetus to the development of global trade.
The presence of foreign buyers at the fair reached a new record
As of 4 May (see below), a total of 288,938 foreign buyers from 219 countries and regions attended the on-site fair, an increase of 17.3% compared to the 135th edition. Both new and repeat buyers participated in the fair. The number of new and repeat buyers reached 171,750 and 117,188 respectively, an increase of 14.6% and 21.4% compared to the 135th edition.
Emerging markets confirmed as the main source of buyers
There were 187,450 buyers from the Belt and Road Initiative countries, an increase of 17.4% and accounting for 64.9% of the total. 72,417 buyers came from the BRICS countries, an increase of 24.1% over the 135th edition. The number of buyers from Global Regional Economic Partnership (RCEP) member states was 64,808, up 6.9% from the previous year. The number of buyers from Europe, the United States and Canada reached 51,862, an increase of 3.4% over the 135th edition. A total of 140 industry organisations and chambers of commerce organised buyer delegations to the fair, an increase of 17.6%.
Representatives from 376 major multinationals attended this session, reaching a record level
Expected on-site export transactions continued to grow. Expected on-site export transactions reached $25.44 billion, an increase of 3%. Transactions from BRI countries accounted for over 60% of the total, playing a significant role in driving this growth. Deals from traditional markets remained stable. Exhibiting companies stated that products with high quality and performance, innovative features and well-known brands were favoured the most. Foreign buyers placed numerous orders, further strengthening exhibitors' confidence in exploring diversified markets.
New foreign trade drivers gained momentum at an accelerating pace
This Canton Fair presented a wide range of new products, technologies, designs, materials and techniques. Environmentally friendly, low-carbon and intelligent products attracted a lot of attention, becoming key to securing orders and expanding markets. Over 4.55 million products were exhibited on site, including 1.02 million new products, 880,000 environmentally friendly and low-carbon products and 320,000 intelligent products. The Service Robots Zone, established for the first time, was a huge success and went viral, presenting 46 leading national robotics companies with over 500 types of robots in 60 niche sectors. On average, exhibitors here received 300 buyers per day. The Canton Fair Award Gallery (CF Award) displayed 147 award-winning products, attracting 40,000 visits.
Exhibitors in the International Pavilion achieved significant results
736 companies from 50 countries and regions exhibited in the International Pavilion, 67% of which came from BRI countries. Numerous international brand companies presented smart production products and quality consumer goods for the home, attracting the attention of domestic and international buyers. Having entered into intentional collaborations with numerous Chinese companies, companies from delegations in Russia, Thailand and Turkey recorded substantial results and their products are expected to quickly enter the Chinese market.
The online platform worked smoothly
527,185 buyers from 229 countries and regions participated in this online session. The exhibitors' shop pages were visited 4.3737 million times. The updated Canton Fair app is now available in 2 versions, designed for buyers and suppliers respectively. With improved functionalities, it enables a fully digitised experience, from route planning to customer follow-up. Its year-round business matchmaking function helps to support potential cooperation. The app has registered over 320,000 downloads. It has become a real 'online business agendary and on-site business support tool'.
Trade promotion events were results-oriented and efficient
In line with current international trade issues and the needs of companies, the fair hosted 1,206 trade promotion events, helping companies to stay informed about market trends and expand their markets. 438 Canton Fair's 'New Collection' activities created new platforms for innovative product launches, attracting over 6,000 on-site buyers and garnering over 1.5 million online views. 734 'Trade Bridge' events attracted over 4,000 participants, including domestic and international business organisations, buyers and suppliers. 15 'Discover Canton Fair with Bees and Honey' activities garnered over 5.5 million online views. In cooperation with leading think tanks, industry associations and relevant institutions, the fair organised 19 industry forums focusing on cutting-edge and trending topics in international trade, attracting an audience of 2,600 people. Eleven forward-looking and trend-setting reports were published, including the China Foreign Trade Logistics Development Report and the White Paper on Global Consumer Electronics Opportunities. During this session, the launch ceremony of the Guangzhou leg of the 'Premium Chinese Export Products Tour' was held, offering Chinese foreign trade enterprises a platform for domestic sales.
IPR protection safeguarded innovative development. In this session, high-level intellectual property rights protection and commercial dispute mediation services were offered to maintain a healthy business environment and safeguard the innovative development of companies. Cases of IPR infringement involving 356 companies were received, and 169 were declared in alleged infringement. 25 commercial disputes were handled, 19 of which reached mediation. Certificates of Participation were issued for 3 companies.
Support services were accurate
The 137th Canton Fair continued to optimise services to improve the overall experience for exhibitors and buyers. The Commercial Services Area introduced 153 companies to offer comprehensive commercial services, including financial insurance, logistics and warehousing, testing and certification. The Design and Trade Promotion Centre (PDC) of the Canton Fair hosted 44 domestic and international design companies and welcomed 5,300 visitors. The fair maintained its commitment to promoting sustainable exhibition development by continuing to build and dismantle 100% green stands, organising a campaign to select 'Stand Green and Beautiful' and promoting and implementing relevant national standards. The badge service was further optimised, with a total of 751,000 badges issued. Notably, 60% of foreign buyers obtained their badges via self-printing kiosks. The fair recorded 2.544 million entries and 45,000 vehicle entries. Three covered footpaths were set up to connect two underground stations close to the Complex, ensuring a comfortable passage for participants. 1.32 million meals were served, with optimised catering layouts and delivery services within the Complex to cater for different culinary needs. For the first time, the Canton Fair Music and Food Festival presented the 'Canton Cuisine Carnival', offering an immersive experience that combined Cantonese cuisine, music and cultural activities, allowing domestic and international guests to appreciate the unique charm of Chinese culture as well as business activities.
To contribute to national efforts to stabilise foreign trade, in addition to the exemption of the entry fee for the Traditional Chinese Specialities Section, the 137th Canton Fair also reduced the entry fees for National Pavilion exhibitors by 50%. The Canton Fair helped companies to better cope with external risks and challenges in a pragmatic manner, taking on the responsibility of China's number one fair. This measure was widely welcomed by companies from all walks of life.
The 137th Canton Fair attracted considerable national and international media attention, with 1,831 journalists from 228 newspapers present on site. The journalists meticulously planned and executed comprehensive coverage, creating a public-friendly environment for a splendid and successful Canton Fair. Exhibitors and buyers are invited to visit the Canton Fair's online platform, which will continue to run smoothly after the on-site fair concludes. Registration for the National Pavilion of the 138th Canton Fair is open from 1 May. Please submit your application through the official channels.
The 138th Canton Fair will be held in Guangzhou from 15 October to 4 November 2025, in three phases. We look forward to meeting you again in the golden autumn.
