Canton Fair: overseas buyers pour in, leaving Chinese exporters to ask ‘why so many foreigners?’
- Foreign buyers have flocked to China’s largest trade exhibition, drawn by the array of new energy vehicles and other green products at the Canton Fair
- But some manufacturers of traditional goods, such as home appliances, have still lamented falling numbers of European and American customers in recent years
South China Morning Post economy desk reporter He Huifeng has been reporting on the semi-annual China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou since the early 2000s. She recounts her experiences from the ongoing 135th session of China’s largest trade exhibition, widely known as the Canton Fair.
I have witnessed waves of highs and lows in export orders at the Canton Fair over the years, but this year, what hit me was the surprisingly strong return of foreign importers.
Even the heavy downpours, which are very rare in the spring in the southern manufacturing hub of Guangzhou, did little to dampen their desire to attend.
Among the four halls in the giant exhibition centre, the one featuring new energy vehicles and smart mobility displays has been the most crowded, which I have not seen in many years.
The booths were full of buyers from various countries and territories, with almost every Chinese attendee wondering: why are there so many foreigners this year?
