China’s Canton Fair sees exporters turn ‘more aggressive’, with foreign buyers at a premium
- As China’s oldest and largest trade fair resumes in-person operations after four years, businesspeople say there is a greater sense of urgency in securing orders
- Fair takes place as diminished demand from Western economies and growing geopolitical tensions have forced many buyers to cut orders and look elsewhere
Wandering between the aisles and browsing interesting new products at China’s largest trade fair, Colombian trader Carlos Trujillo received an unprecedented welcome from enthusiastic Chinese exporters.
As exporters distributed product catalogues stapled with name cards, their message to foreign passers-by was clear: we are back, and we need your business.
After three years of being held online during the pandemic, the biannual Canton Fair – also known as the China Import and Export Fair – has finally returned with in-person exhibitions and exchanges.
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However, despite being elated that China’s borders have reopened, many domestic exporters say there is a sense of urgency in securing orders, as they brace for stronger-than-ever external headwinds.
