#China #Guangzhou #Canton Fair #Trade Expo

The 137th Canton Fair Concludes in Guangzhou

The recent conclusion of the 137th China Import and Export Fair, known as the Canton Fair, marked a significant achievement with a record number of global participation. Held until May 5, 2025, this fair attracted an impressive 288,938 overseas buyers from 219 countries and regions, illustrating a remarkable increase of 17.3% compared to the previous session. The potential export transactions generated during the fair amounted to $25.44 billion, up by 3%.

During a press conference, Mr. Zhou Shanqing, the Deputy Director General of the China Foreign Trade Centre, commented on the fair's success. It was noted that emerging markets were particularly vital, with countries participating under the Belt and Road Initiative contributing to 187,450 attendees, representing 64.9% of total visitors to the fair. Additional contributions came from BRICS nations, which experienced a 24.1% increase in attendance to 72,417 buyers, while members of RCEP saw a 6.9% rise, reaching 64,808 participants.

The strong representation from 140 business organizations indicated a 17.6% growth in institutional participation, while a record 376 multinational sourcing companies attended the fair. This indicates a robust interest from international markets in engaging with Chinese suppliers.

Another noteworthy aspect was the breakdown of intended export transactions, with products from Belt and Road countries comprising over 60% of deals finalized. This signifies a crucial role of these countries not only as buyers but also as strategic partners for exporting goods.

The 137th Canton Fair also exhibited a significant number of innovative products. A total of 4.55 million items were displayed, including 1.02 million new products, 880,000 categories focused on green and low-carbon technology, and 320,000 intelligent technology items. A highlight was the introduction of the Service Robots Zone, showcasing more than 500 types of robots from 46 leading Chinese robotics companies.

The fair’s international pavilion also bore fruit with 736 exhibitors from 50 countries. Notably, 67% of these participants hailed from Belt and Road countries. Many exhibitors, particularly those from Russia, Thailand, and Turkey, reported successful collaborations with Chinese buyers, paving the way for their products to swiftly enter the Chinese market.

Additionally, the event featured over 1,206 trade promotion activities focused on current trends in international commerce. These included 438 debut collections, 734 'Trade Bridge' matchmaking events, and several industry forums that engaged professionals in discussions on pressing topics in trade and commerce.

As plans are set for the 138th Canton Fair, which is scheduled for October 15 to November 4, 2025, this year's event solidified the fair's reputation as a vital platform for international trade and cooperation, significantly contributing to the global economy's post-pandemic recovery.