The Canton Fair, officially known as the China Import and Export Fair, is China’s number one exhibition.
Held twice a year in Guangzhou, it provides a platform for international trade and showcases a wide range of products from all walks of life. Each session covers 1,185,000 square meters of exhibition space, with nearly 26,000 domestic and foreign exhibitors, and about 200,000 buyers from more than 210 countries and regions around the world come to purchase at each session.
Below is a comprehensive guide to the Canton Fair to help you understand this important event.
About Canton Fair
Founded in 1957, the Canton Fair has evolved from a local exhibition to a global trade center. Through years of development, Canton Fair has become the first platform for China’s foreign trade and a barometer of the foreign trade situation, and is the window, epitome and symbol of China’s opening up to the outside world. Canton Fair aims to promote China’s exports and attract foreign investment. With thousands of exhibitors and buyers from all over the world, the Canton Fair plays a crucial role in international trade, promoting business ties and fostering economic growth.
Address:No. 380, Yuejiang Zhong Road, Guangzhou, China
Office Site:https://www.cantonfair.org.cn
Up to the 126th edition, the Canton Fair has accumulated about 141.26 billion U.S. dollars in exports, and 8.99 million overseas buyers have visited the fair. With an exhibition area of 1,185,000 square meters, nearly 26,000 domestic and foreign exhibitors, and about 200,000 buyers from more than 210 countries and regions around the world attending each session. 2020, in the face of the global epidemic ravaging the world trade and suffering heavy blows, the 127th and 128th Canton Fairs were held online.
The time of Canton Fair
The Canton Fair is held twice a year, usually in April and October, and is divided into three phases lasting 15 days.
Each stage focuses on a different product category, allowing buyers to choose a specific stage that matches their interests.
Canton Fair Products
There are a wide variety of products available at the Canton Fair, broadly including:
Consumer goods: electronics, clothing, home décor and toys.
Machinery: industrial equipment, construction machinery and tools.
Building materials: furniture, flooring and home furnishings.
Food and agricultural products: snacks, beverages and organic agricultural products.
Medical devices: health-related products and equipment.
The main products of each phase
Phase 1
Spring and Autumn
Large machinery&equipment
Small machinery
Bike
Motor bike
Auto accessory
Chemical products
Hardware
Tools
Vehicle(outside)
Construction machinery
Household electrical appliance
Electrical consumer products
Electrical and electronic products
Computer and communication facilities
Lighting products
Construction&decoration material
Bathroom products
Import area
Phase 2
Spring and Autumn
Kitchenware
Daily ceramic products
Craft ceramic products
Home decoration
Glass
craft
Furniture Waving, rattan and iron products
Garden products
Iron and stone products (outdoor)
household items
personal care appliances
bathroom supplies
watches &glasses
toys
gifts
party supplies
local products
Phase 3
Spring and Autumn
Men’s and women’s wear
children’s wear
Underwear
sportswear and casual wear
fur leather down and products
clothing accessories and accessories
home textiles
Textile&fabrics
carpets and tapestries
food medicine and health care products
medical equipment
sports and tourism
leisure goods
office stationery
Shoes bags and suitcases
Advantages of Canton Fair
- Diverse product offerings: buyers can explore a myriad of products from multiple industries.
- Networking opportunities: the show attracts a global audience, making it an ideal place to build business relationships.
- Direct access to manufacturers: buyers can meet suppliers face-to-face, facilitating negotiations and collaborations.
- Market insights: attending the show provides valuable insights into industry trends and innovations.
Things to note about the Canton Fair
- Crowds: while saving time, you also need to face the problem of large crowds, and the sheer size of the event may overwhelm first-time visitors.
- Language barriers: Communication problems may arise as many are factory exhibitors with limited English skills. Especially if you speak other languages, then you will need to find an interpreter to accompany you, and the cost of an interpreter will be higher.
- MOQ requirements: Suppliers at the Canton Fair have high minimum MOQ requirements for each product and usually need to order by the container, which is not good for start-ups or retailers.
- Cost of Exhibiting: During the Canton Fair, the price of major hotels in Guangzhou will increase dramatically, and it will be hard to find a room.
- Time constraints: The display time for each product is not very long, only 5 days, you need to make a decision as soon as possible and finish the product inspection as soon as possible.
How to attend the Canton Fair
In order to participate effectively, buyers should:
Apply for a visa to come to China
Inviting letter
Canton Fair will invite buyers to attend the fair. There are two types of invitation letter, electronic invitation letter and paper invitation letter.
Paper invitation letter
This kind of invitation letter is the precondition for visitors to apply visa to China and will be sent by mail. One letter can be shared with 3 represents in the same company.
The copy is invalid.
Electronic invitation letter
This is another kind of formal invitation later and the copy is valid. It can be shared by a group of represents in one company.
It is also sent by mail.
What you can do with the invitation letter
In order to apply visa successfully, when you ask for invitation letter, you need to provide real personal information, like name, nationality, address and company’s name. If you have been to Canton Fair before and bought IC card, pls note this card can use for different fairs and you can enter the hall directly. It will save time. But if you are new visitors, then you need to obtain invitation letter.
Tips
In order to apply visa successfully, when you ask for invitation letter, you need to provide real personal information, like name, nationality, address and company’s name.
If you have been to Canton Fair before and bought IC card, pls note this card can use for different fairs and you can enter the hall directly. It will save time. But if you are new visitors, then you need to obtain invitation letter.
Pls click this link to learn more about obtaining the invitation letter.
www.cantonfair.org.cn
What do you need to take with when visit Canton Fair
An easy to carry suitcase. Because there are many suppliers will show you different samples. If you are going to place an order later, it is better to carry a sample with you for quality check. It is worth mentioning that now in Yiwu market is popular a kind of electric mobile suitcase, carrying at the same time and ride exhibitors, can greatly reduce the pressure on the legs.
Also, you can collect some different samples for new ideas. In this case, it will be more convenient if you can put the samples or other items into your suitcase. You can visit the exhibition more easily.
Notebook and pen: You need to record some information, such as product price, minimum order quantity, supplier information. A notebook can help you record every detail clearly.
Attending the trade show itself is free of charge, assuming you pre-register on the official website. If not, you’ll need to pay 200 RMB to register at the exhibition. There are of course other costs to take into consideration:
*Flights
*Taxis
*Hotels
*Visa application fees
*Travel insurance
A solo attendee flying in from Europe, Australia or North America should budget at least $1500 for the entire trip. Clearly, it’s less if you’re based nearby, for example in Hong Kong or Singapore.
Samples that are on display are not for sale, but sometimes exhibitors are coming to the end of the show and factories tend to sell samples cheaply. After all, it is a lot of work to bring them back to the factory, and if you are lucky enough, exhibitors may give you free samples.
Most of the products on display are from product styles that have been available in the past, many of which are already bestsellers on sites like Amazon or even in local brick and mortar stores.
But if you look hard enough to find them, you’ll find unique and different products that may have never been sold in your country before. Some new products are often protected by developers to prevent imitations, and a deep conversation with the supplier may yield unexpected results!
Most exhibitors speak basic English and can converse fluently with English speakers.
Problems will arise if you speak other languages, e.g. Spanish, French, etc.
Download a translation app or find a Canton Fair agent, but be warned – if you have a poor Wi-Fi connection, the app won’t work properly! You can also try arranging for an interpreter to work for you while you are at the show.
In the vast majority of cases it’s no problem, taking good notes and photos is a must!
It depends! If you have fewer items to purchase, you may only need to attend one of the stages again, but since the fair only happens 2 times a year, many dealers will stay as many days as possible to not miss the opportunity.
I recommend you to stay at a hotel close to Pazhou International Exhibition Centre, which is the Canton Fair venue.
*Langham Place Guangzhou
*The Westin Pazhou
*Shangri-La Hotel Guangzhou
*Intercontinental Guangzhou Exhibition Center
Keep in mind that hotel rates increase significantly during the Canton Fair, with some hotels charging more than twice their standard rate. That said, there are budget hotels and hostels in the proximity to the Pazhou International Exhibition Centre.
The Canton Fair is an important event for anyone involved in international trade. Buyers can maximize their experience. Whether you are looking for new suppliers or exploring market trends, the Canton Fair offers unrivaled opportunities for business development.
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