Marking its 70th anniversary, the 140th Canton Fair officially opened in Guangzhou on October 15. The fair set new records in exhibition scale, innovative achievements, and the proportion of green products. Some 32,000 companies showcased their new products, while domestic and overseas buyers gathered for business negotiations, achieving a highly efficient conversion from standout exhibits to secured orders and fully unleashing the vitality of foreign trade.
Running from October 15 to November 4, the fair is held in three phases, featuring a total exhibition area of 1.55 million square meters, over 75,000 booths, and 32,000 exhibiting companies. Exhibitor quality has seen a substantial upgrade, with over 11,000 specialized, sophisticated, distinctive, and innovative enterprises, single-product champions, and high-tech quality enterprises, alongside around 2,800 brand-name companies. The fair has attracted approximately 340,000 overseas buyers for matchmaking and cooperation. The results of innovation and green transformation are particularly notable, with new products accounting for 23.2% and green products for 26% of the exhibits, both hitting record highs. Meanwhile, 64% of the companies have implemented cutting-edge technologies such as the Industrial Internet and artificial intelligence. Over 700 new product launch events will be held, comprehensively showcasing the upgrading achievements of China's intelligent manufacturing.
The first phase of the fair focuses on the theme of advanced manufacturing, featuring a concentrated display of new products in future industries such as service robots, drones, and brain-computer interfaces, highlighting cutting-edge technological achievements. On the first day of the fair, booths across the venue were packed with visitors, and the atmosphere for foreign trade negotiations was highly vibrant. Many companies reported that within less than an hour of opening, foot traffic and inquiry volumes far exceeded those of the same period in previous editions. Even with all sales staff on duty, demand outstripped supply, and buyers had to queue for negotiations at popular booths during off-peak hours.
As the hottest exhibition zone this year, the service robot area has been comprehensively upgraded, featuring a concentrated display of multiple debut products, including humanoid robots, exoskeleton robots, educational and companion robots, intelligent cleaning robots, special-operation robots, and a brand-new wheel-legged robot. The wheel-legged robot is a hit exhibit this year. Compared with traditional quadruped robots, it operates with less noise and has better maneuverability in confined spaces, making it suitable for more complex operational scenarios. According to the exhibiting companies, this new wheel-legged robot overcomes the limitations of traditional wheeled robots in navigating complex terrains while also being more cost-effective, offering better economic efficiency and longer battery life than quadruped robots. Unlike previous editions where buyers mainly focused on observation and experience, this year's buyers are highly purpose-driven. After watching live demonstrations, they immediately inquire about prices, request samples, and finalize orders, resulting in a significant boost in commercial conversion efficiency. On the first day, a Turkish buyer finalized samples for multiple models of cleaning robots on-site, with a planned total purchase volume of over 50,000 units. Many companies had prepared 60 to 70 samples in advance, all of which were booked out within half a day of the opening, indicating a substantial increase in market recognition for new products.
Among the steady stream of buyers, many are familiar faces who attend the fair year after year. Before the fair even opened, they visited supplier factories to gain a detailed understanding of new products and technologies, and even rushed to sign large orders. Anis, head of a large building materials group in Dubai, arrived early with his colleagues for this year's Canton Fair to make the most of their time visiting Chinese supplier partners. He was highly satisfied with the high-end customized products of a furniture hardware company in Foshan, Guangdong, and immediately signed a new order for two container loads. Anis told reporters that he came early because he knew factories would receive a flood of orders during the Canton Fair, and he wanted to get ahead of the line to secure his goods faster. A Shenzhen-based robotics company, specializing in intelligent products such as robot-made coffee and milk tea, was swamped with inquiries even before the fair opened, as buyers came knocking for factory tours and cooperation talks. The person in charge said that over a dozen batches of buyers had already visited the factory, showing a very strong willingness to purchase. Isra, a Canadian buyer visiting the factory, said he could feel that Chinese companies are truly advancing technology, and he wants to bring this innovation back to his country.
While retaining its regular buyers, this year's Canton Fair continues to attract new overseas players. A group of Chilean buyers came to China as a delegation for the first time, combining business scouting with an immersive experience of China's development and urban landscape. Jorge, visiting Guangzhou for the first time, was deeply impressed by the scale and vitality of Chinese cities, noting that Guangzhou's population is nearly equivalent to that of the entire Chilean nation, presenting abundant business opportunities. A travel agent in the Chilean delegation said he hopes to understand the multifaceted aspects of Guangzhou to better design tourism products, offering Chilean tourists a diverse experience when visiting the city. Local cultural and tourism professionals are also targeting cross-border demand by launching featured products and partnering with local Chinese travel agencies to incorporate boutique routes into the "Travel in China" product portfolio, encouraging more inbound visitors to start their China journeys from Guangzhou.