Published by ChinaMNC ยท Chenxi
Canton Fair 140th Session Opens in Guangzhou: What Foreign Founders Need to Know
A practical briefing for foreign founders on the 140th Canton Fair in Guangzhou: exhibitor and buyer numbers, the Advanced Manufacturing theme, new-industry zones, trade services, and the three-phase schedule.
What Happened at the 140th Canton Fair
The 140th China Import and Export Fair, known as the Canton Fair, opened in Guangzhou on October 15. The event is organized in three phases running from October 15 to November 4.
According to the source, about 32,000 companies are exhibiting across the full session, and roughly 340,000 overseas buyers are attending to source products. For foreign founders watching China's manufacturing and sourcing landscape, these figures signal that the fair remains a major meeting point for international buyers and Chinese suppliers.
Phase One in Focus: Advanced Manufacturing
The first phase is themed "Advanced Manufacturing." More than 12,000 companies are exhibiting in this phase. Among them, over 6,000 are described as high-quality exhibitors, including high-tech enterprises, specialized and sophisticated ("little giant") firms, and single-product champions.
This concentration matters for founders assessing suppliers or partners in technology-intensive categories. The source does not provide a breakdown by product category beyond these figures, so founders should treat the numbers as scale indicators rather than as a supplier shortlist.
New, Green and Smart: The Themes Shaping Phase One
Phase One is organized around the trends of "new, green and smart." It focuses on global sourcing hotspots such as new energy, smart manufacturing and embodied intelligence.
Seventeen dedicated zones for emerging and future industries are set up, including service robots, drones and display technology. The phase also brings together outcomes in new-quality productive forces, such as new-type energy storage, high-end chips and AI visualization products.
Trade Services Covering the Whole Production Chain
In the trade services exhibition area, nine trade service zones are organized around producer services. According to the source, this is the first time all ten major categories of producer services are covered.
For founders, this section is worth noting because producer services sit alongside manufacturing and can be relevant when planning sourcing, logistics or related business services in China. The source does not detail which specific services fall under each category.
New Product Launches and a New Showcase Area
The full session plans more than 700 new product launch events. The number of products released is reported to have grown by 15%. A dedicated new product launch showcase area is being set up for the first time.
These details are useful for founders tracking product trends and competitor activity. They do not, however, indicate which sectors the launches are concentrated in beyond the phase themes described above.
Practical Takeaways for Foreign Founders
- Scale of participation: About 32,000 exhibitors and roughly 340,000 overseas buyers are involved across the session, making the fair a large-scale sourcing environment.
- Phase One supplier base: More than 12,000 exhibitors, including over 6,000 high-quality firms, are in the Advanced Manufacturing phase.
- Emerging categories: Seventeen zones cover areas such as service robots, drones, display technology, new-type energy storage, high-end chips and AI visualization products.
- Service support: Nine trade service zones cover producer services, with all ten major categories represented for the first time.
- Timing: The fair runs in three phases from October 15 to November 4, with over 700 new product launches planned.
How This Fits Into Setting Up in China
For foreign founders registering or operating a company in China, large trade events like the Canton Fair are often used to meet suppliers, compare product lines and understand where manufacturing capacity is concentrated. The source describes the fair's scale and thematic focus but does not provide guidance on company registration, visas, tax or import procedures.
Founders planning to attend or follow the fair should verify exhibitor lists, phase dates and product categories through official Canton Fair channels, since the source article summarizes only headline figures and themes.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Event: 140th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair)
- Location: Guangzhou
- Opening date: October 15
- Duration: October 15 to November 4, in three phases
- Exhibitors: about 32,000 companies across the session
- Overseas buyers: about 340,000
- Phase One theme: Advanced Manufacturing
- Phase One exhibitors: over 12,000, including over 6,000 high-quality firms
- Emerging industry zones: 17
- Trade service zones: 9, covering all ten major producer service categories for the first time
- New product launches: over 700 planned; product releases up 15%; first dedicated launch showcase area
Foreign founders who want hands-on support with company registration and ongoing operations in China can contact ChinaMNC on WhatsApp or WeChat at +86 153 1898 8535.
This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.