Guangzhou, April 15, 2025-The 127th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) opened grandly today at the Guangzhou Pazhou International Exhibition Center. As the "barometer" of China's foreign trade and one of the world's largest comprehensive trade fairs, this year's Canton Fair, with the theme of "innovation-driven, digital empowerment, and green trade", attracted 35,000 companies from more than 210 countries and regions around the world to participate in the exhibition, and is expected to welcome more than 200,000 international buyers.
New highlights of foreign trade: digital trade and intelligent manufacturing become the focus
Digital trade zone expansion: This year's Canton Fair specially set up the "Digital Trade and Cross-border E-commerce" exhibition area, bringing together well-known platforms such as Alibaba International Station, SHEIN, and Temu, to showcase innovative services such as AI smart customer service, digital marketing tools, and cross-border payment solutions to help small and medium-sized enterprises expand overseas markets.
Smart manufacturing is popular: Chinese new energy, robot, and high-end equipment manufacturing companies have become the focus of buyers. BYD, DJI, Gree and other brands have brought their latest products to the market. Among them, orders for photovoltaic energy storage equipment and smart home systems are expected to increase significantly.
Green foreign trade has become a trend: After the EU carbon tariff (CBAM) was officially implemented, the Canton Fair set up a "green and low-carbon exhibition area" for the first time to display environmentally friendly materials, energy-saving home appliances, sustainable packaging and other products to meet the global market's demand for ESG (environment, society, governance) trade.
Emerging markets are active, and RCEP dividends continue to be released
ASEAN and Middle East buyers surge: Thanks to the deepening implementation of RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement), the number of registered Southeast Asian buyers increased by 25% year-on-year, and the Middle East region increased by 18% due to the warming of cooperation in jointly building the "Belt and Road".
Latin American and African markets have great potential: Buyers in emerging markets such as Brazil, Mexico, and Nigeria actively inquire about prices, and have strong demand for building materials, agricultural machinery, and consumer electronics. Chinese companies' exports to emerging markets are expected to maintain double-digit growth.
Policy support stabilizes foreign trade, and the Canton Fair platform is upgraded again
A relevant person in charge of the Ministry of Commerce said that in 2025, China will continue to optimize cross-border trade facilitation measures, including improving the efficiency of export tax rebates and expanding the pilot of cross-border e-commerce comprehensive pilot zones. The Canton Fair simultaneously optimizes the "online + offline" integration model, provides multilingual AI translation, VR exhibition halls and other functions, and lowers the threshold for international buyers to connect.
Expert opinion: Experts from the China International Trade Association pointed out that although global trade faces geopolitical fluctuations, China's supply chain resilience and innovation advantages are obvious. The Canton Fair is still an important hub for global companies to explore the Chinese market and "Made in China" to go global.
Exhibition time: April 15-May 5, 2025
Location: China Import and Export Fair Complex (Guangzhou)
