On October 15, the 138th Canton Fair commenced in Guangzhou, setting new historical records with a total exhibition area of 1.55 million square meters, 74,600 booths, and over 32,000 participating enterprises. Approximately 3,600 companies are making their debut at this edition.
Over 400 global leading enterprises are expected to attend, with 207,000 buyers from 217 countries and regions having pre-registered - a 14.1% increase from last session. More buyers are from the EU, the United States, and Belt and Road countries.
The Fair this year features a significantly upgraded lineup of high-quality enterprises, with those recognized as national high-tech innovators, "little giants" specializing in niche sectors, and manufacturing champions exceeding 10,000 for the first time. These premium exhibitors account for 34% of all export-focused participants and will present 353,000 intelligent product units.
Notably, this edition introduces a dedicated Smart Healthcare zone, attracting 47 companies showcasing advanced medical products, including surgical robots, intelligent monitoring systems, and wearable devices. The Service Robotics zone gathers 46 industry leaders exhibiting humanoid robots, robotic dogs, and other innovations, highlighting new growth drivers for foreign trade.
The new product launch sessions expand significantly to over 600 events, marking a 37% increase from the previous edition. Among these debut products, 63% incorporate innovative technologies, nearly half feature functional upgrades, and a substantial portion utilizes green/low-carbon solutions and innovative materials, demonstrating the dynamic innovation capacity of China's foreign trade.
Substantial digital upgrades enhance service efficiency this year. The fair has deployed 100 self-service credential kiosks and converted 312 manual counters to automated stations, enabling overseas buyers to obtain passes within 30 seconds using passport scans or QR codes.
This year, a groundbreaking booth navigation system also debuts across 10 pilot halls. Through the official Canton Fair app or onsite navigation kiosks, visitors can now generate optimal walking routes for precise booth localization, transitioning from venue-level to booth-level guidance.
Reporter | Guo Chuhua
Photo | Guo Chuhua
