The China Import and Export Fair, renowned as the Canton Fair, meets again in April for its 111th edition continuing its key role in promoting the development of China’s foreign trade and economic communication while also bolstering general business for global exhibitors through trade visitors from all over the world.

The event, which has evolved as China’s number 1 fair, is hosted by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and the Government of Guangdong Province and organised by the China Foreign Trade Centre to meet every spring and autumn in Guangzhou, China.

“Since its establishment in 1957, the Canton Fair has enjoyed the longest history, the largest scale, the biggest buyer attendance, the broadest buyer distribution, the most complete exhibit variety, and the best business turnover across 110 sessions,” a Canton Fair spokesman said. 

The 110th session attracted 209,175 buyers from 210 countries and regions, hitting a historical new height and increasing 1 per cent over the previous session. The business turnover at the session enjoyed a 3 per cent increase to reach $37.9 billion, according to the spokesman.

“Chinese exhibitors of the Canton Fair are credible and highly competitive. About 20,000 domestic enterprises that participate in each session are selected from hundreds of thousands of Chinese enterprises including those coming from the highest levels of industry,” he added.

A stream of international visitors at a Canton Fair

The Canton Fair is a great trade event which is both comprehensive and specialised. Displayed are more than 150,000 Chinese and overseas products and, at every session, new products account for over 40 per cent of the total reflecting the innovation edge that it projects.

The 110th session attracted 104 of the world’s top 250 retail giants, including Wal-Mart, Carrefour, and Costco.

Purchasers from Asia, Europe and the US accounted for more than 90 per cent of the companies attending the fair.

The spokesman also said that companies from emerging markets had shown a growing interest in Chinese goods. The trading volume with firms from India, Russia and Brazil grew by 9 per cent compared with the previous fair.

International Pavilion

As the Chinese Government is keen on balancing imports and exports, the Canton Fair has since the 101st session set up an International Pavilion in 2007 and invited overseas enterprises to participate. The last 10 sessions have welcomed more than 2,000 enterprises from more than 50 countries and regions.

“For manufacturers, you need to go because the whole world is there looking for products,” said Julian Baseley, chairman and managing director of Earlex Group, a UK-based manufacturer of HVLP (high volume, low pressure) spraying systems and steam wallpaper strippers.

Earlex had the largest booth at the International Pavilion in 2011. “It’s much easier to exhibit than you would actually think,” he was quoted as saying by the Canton Fair Supplement, published by the China-British Business Council (CBBC).

“The first time we exhibited was at the October fair in 2010,” said Baseley. “We got 360 contacts at the fair, roughly 60 from China and 300 from around the rest of the world.”

Because of the success of that show, Earlex took a 54 sq m booth in April 2011, 50 per cent larger than the year before. The company made more than 550 contacts, only 70 of which were Chinese.

The International Pavilion is also called the “Import Zone” to differentiate it from the rest of the Canton Fair, which is export-oriented. Foreign firms market their products and services to China as well as to buyers from around the world.

The organisers have stressed the high priority the Canton Fair gives to intellectual property rights protection (IPR), saying that as early as the 85th session in 1999 it set up a complaint reception centre. Now it has a complete and adaptable IPR protection system, it notes.

111th session details

The yuletide spirit seeps in at the fair

The 111th session will be held at the China Import and Export Fair Complex from April 15 to May 5. The fair will be arranged into three phases, namely, Phase 1: April 15-19; Phase 2: April 23-27; Phase 3: May 1-5. Intervals: April 20-22, April 28-30.

The 111th session of the Canton Fair will accommodate about 58,700 standard stands, with over 20,000 domestic and overseas enterprises.

The session will accommodate about 58,700 standard stands, with over 20,000 domestic and overseas enterprises.

111th session at a glance:

Phase 1: April 15 – 19: Electronics and Household Electrical Appliances; Hardware and Tools; Machinery; Vehicles and Spare Parts; Building Materials; Lighting Equipment; Chemical Products; International Pavilion.

Phase 2: April 23 – 27: Consumer Goods; Gifts; Home Decorations

Phase 3: May 1 – 5: Textiles and Garments; Shoes; Office Supplies, Cases and Bags, Recreation Products; Medicines, Medical Devices, Health Products; Food; International Pavilion

Those interested may contact the Canton Fair Call-Centre: 86-20-28-888-999 - outside the Chinese mainland; 4000-888-999 - the Chinese mainland.

The website is: www.cantonfair.org.cn