China’s Canton Fair wraps up, but exporters lament the lack of foreign buyers
- The biggest concern among Chinese exhibitors at October’s Canton Fair has been the rising cost of production amid global inflation
- Other were disappointed with the lack of foreign buyers as coronavirus-related travel restrictions continue to hamper attendance
Canton Fair participants said global inflation was the biggest risk for their businesses as they attended the biannual trade event in person for the first time in three exhibitions.
The five-day fair – the largest of its kind in China – kicked off last Friday in Guangzhou, but many Chinese exhibitors said they were disappointed at the lack of foreign buyers, with some packing up and leaving early on the last day of the fair on Tuesday.
Many exporters taking part in the exhibition, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), said they had not signed up or approached new foreign buyers during the event, while domestic buyers showed little interest in placing orders.
The fair’s operator did not release the session’s sales and foreign visitors numbers.
