139th Canton Fair Draws Record Overseas Buyers

KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 (Bernama) -- The 139th Canton Fair in Guangdong Province concluded with a record number of overseas buyers, underscoring continued global demand for Chinese products and manufacturing innovation.

According to the China Foreign Trade Centre, the 15-day event attracted more than 314,000 overseas buyers from 220 countries and regions, marking the highest international attendance in the fair’s history.

Held across three phases, the fair featured more than 32,000 exhibitors and 75,700 booths spanning approximately 1.55 million square metres, with around 3,900 companies participating for the first time, according to a statement.

The exhibition highlighted China’s push towards higher-value, technology-driven manufacturing, with more than 4.65 million products displayed, including growing numbers of green technologies, smart products and goods backed by proprietary intellectual property.

The fair also reflected emerging industrial trends, with more than 600 product launch events held during the exhibition, while showcases related to future industries increased 30 per cent compared with the previous session. Artificial intelligence-related applications, including robotic patrol systems and drone demonstrations, were also presented for the first time.

In addition, nine new specialised exhibition zones were introduced, covering sectors such as consumer and agricultural drones, smart wearables, display technologies and integrated housing solutions, with nearly 670 companies participating.

The fair’s strong performance coincided with robust foreign trade growth in Guangdong, which ranked first nationwide in total import-export volume and contribution to China’s trade growth in the first quarter of 2026.

First launched in 1957, the Canton Fair is widely regarded as a key barometer of China’s foreign trade and international commercial engagement. Guangdong authorities said the event continues to serve as an important platform connecting Chinese manufacturers with global buyers.

-- BERNAMA