China’s Ministry of Commerce held its regular press conference on September 10.
Ministry spokesperson Gao Feng shared information about the upcoming 128th Canton Fair.
The most interesting part is that the 128th China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, will be held online from October 15 to October 24, 2020.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the fair first moved online for a virtual edition during June 15–24, 2020, at the 127th Spring Canton Fair.
Following social distancing rules and limiting in-person contact, it was decided that the autumn fair would also have an online edition.
About the Canton Fair
The China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, was founded in 1957.
It was established by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and the People’s Government of Guangdong Province, and is organized by the China Foreign Trade Centre.
It is held every spring and autumn in Guangzhou, China.
The Canton Fair is a comprehensive international trade event with the longest history, the largest scale, the most complete range of exhibits, the highest attendance of buyers, and the highest business turnover in China.
To date, over the 63 years since its founding, reform, and development, the Canton Fair has never been interrupted.
It is a major opportunity for Chinese companies and a key foundation for starting and growing foreign trade and exports.
The Guangzhou fair serves as the first and most important platform for promoting China’s foreign trade and is a barometer of the foreign trade sector.
It is a symbol of China’s opening up to the world.
Up to last year, meaning through the 126th fair, the accumulated export turnover reached about USD 1.4126 trillion, and the total number of overseas buyers reached 8.99 million.
The exhibition area of the fair is 1.185 million m², and the number of exhibitors from China and abroad is nearly 26,000.
Every year, around 400,000 buyers attend the fair from more than 210 countries and regions around the world.
The 127th Spring Fair, held from June 15 to 24, 2020, was the first virtual fair caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
At that fair, 26,000 Chinese and international exhibitors presented their products and held online negotiations virtually.
Buyers from 217 countries and regions registered and visited the fair in this way.
The virtual Canton Fair opened a new path for the development of international trade and laid the groundwork for this kind of online business model.
What can you see at the fair?
The fair features products grouped into 16 categories across 50 exhibition sections.
In short, you can find almost anything you can think of.
If you have ever been there, you know how huge it is and how impossible it is to see everything in just a few days.
If you plan to visit, go with a clear goal, meaning you should know what you want to buy.
Don’t make decisions on the spot with the idea of “I’ll know it when I see it,” because that usually means you won’t end up buying anything.
Product categories
- Electronics and home electrical appliances
- Lighting equipment
- Vehicles and spare parts
- Machinery
- Machines and tools
- Building materials
- Chemical products
- Energy
- Consumer goods
- Gifts
- Home décor
- Textiles and clothing
- Shoes
- Office supplies, bags, and recreation
- Medicine and medical products
- Food
If you want to visit the virtual fair, go to this link:
[https://vr.cantonfair.org.cn/companyAreas.html](https://vr.cantonfair.org.cn/companyAreas.html)
There you’ll see a huge range of product categories. Pick the one you’re interested in and browse the sellers and their products.
You move through aisles and booths much like in a Google Street View-style display.
Here’s what one shop, or exhibitor, at the fair looks like:
And you can also zoom in on a product and view it in more detail.
The main buyer page is here:
[https://www.cantonfair.org.cn/en/buyer](https://www.cantonfair.org.cn/en/buyer)
During the fair period, from October 15 to October 24, you’ll be able to talk to sellers and potentially close a deal.
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