Canton Fair visitors surge 25%, export orders leap

An increased number of overseas buyers joining the 135th China Import and Export Fair, one of the biggest trade events in China, has helped greatly boost orders for Chinese export-oriented companies, the fair's organizers said.

"In addition to on-site contract signings, overseas buyers have visited factories during the fair, assessing production capacity and making future appointments, indicating the potential for further orders to be achieved," said Zhou Shanqing, deputy director of the China Foreign Trade Center.

According to the fair's organizers, 246,000 overseas buyers from 215 countries and regions have visited the fair, widely known as the Canton Fair, which concluded on Sunday in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province.

The number represents a year-on-year increase of 24.5 percent, compared to the last session in October, according to the organizers.

Of the overseas buyers, 160,000 and 61,000 were from countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative and member countries of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, marking year-on-year increases of 25.1 percent and 25.5 percent, respectively.

A continuous series of new products, technologies, materials, processes and innovations have emerged during the fair, showcasing high-end, intelligent, green and low-carbon products that embody the achievements of China's new quality productive forces, according to the organizers.

"These products have been warmly welcomed and favored in the international market, demonstrating the solid capabilities of 'Made in China' and injecting new vitality into foreign trade development," said Zhou.

The increased visits by overseas buyers have led to a sharp increase in on-site transactions. As of Saturday, the offline export turnover during the fair reached $24.7 billion, representing a 10.7 percent increase compared with the previous session, the organizers said. Buyers from emerging markets have clinched active transactions, with deals amounting to $13.86 billion with countries and regions involved in the BRI, marking a 13 percent increase from the previous session.

"Buyers from traditional European and American markets have shown higher average transaction values," said Zhou.

The fair's online platforms have also seen increased trading activities, with export transactions reaching $3.03 billion, a growth of 33.1 percent compared to the previous session.

"We have added exclusive agents from more than 20 countries, opening up new markets in Europe, South America and other regions," said Sun Guo, sales director of Changzhou Airwheel Technology Co Ltd.

Smart suitcases produced by the company have become one of the hottest selling items during the fair. "We have achieved great success, with over 30,000 units sold, totaling over $8 million in sales," Sun said.

Overseas buyers have given high praise to the fair, saying China has the best supply chain and the event has become an ideal platform for achieving one-stop procurements.

"China is the place I look to when I want to buy and create partners," said James Atanga, who runs a trading company in Cameroon's commercial hub of Douala.

Atanga, 55, is the manager of Tang Enterprise Co Ltd, which deals in household utensils, furniture, electronics, clothes, shoes, toys and auto parts.

"Almost everything in my shop is imported from China," he said during a visit to the fair's first phase in mid-April. In 2010, Atanga forged connections in China and began traveling to Guangdong's Guangzhou and Shenzhen to purchase goods.