On May 5, the 139th Canton Fair concluded, marking a historic milestone with an unprecedented surge in international participation. As of May 4, a record-breaking 314,000 overseas buyers from 220 countries and regions had attended the event, marking a 1.1% increase compared to the previous session. This growth underscores the fair's enduring status as a premier global trading hub.
This year's edition saw a significant influx of professional delegations, including 407 leading global retail giants and 154 international business organizations. This further cemented the event's role in strengthening the global supply chain.
The scale of this year's fair reached new heights, covering a massive exhibition area of 1.55 million square meters with 75,700 booths. Among the more than 32,000 participating companies, approximately 3,900 made their debut, bringing fresh energy to the traditional trade landscape.
To better reflect evolving market demands, the fair introduced nine specialized zones across its three phases. These newly established sections spanned three phases, from consumer and agricultural drones and smart wearables in the first phase to sustainable bamboo home products and fashion accessories in the second and high-performance technical fabrics in the third. Collectively, they hosted nearly 670 enterprises.
These zones served as a concentrated showcase of industrial innovation. They attracted significant interest from buyers seeking the latest in functional design and advanced manufacturing.
Innovation was not limited to the exhibition halls, as the fair also embraced the future through digital transformation and high-tech demonstrations. During the session, more than 600 product debut activities were held, representing a 27% increase in new product releases.
More notably, activities focused on emerging future industries increased by 30%. This growth was complemented by the introduction of AI-driven scenarios such as autonomous robot inspections and live drone flight demonstrations.
Reporter | Guo Chuhua
Photo | Guo Chuhua
