China is further strengthening its position as a major global supplier, providing international consumers with more affordable products and businesses with access to advanced technologies, equipment and manufacturing solutions. The 140th China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, highlights how Chinese exports are evolving from traditional manufactured goods toward innovative, high-value and environmentally friendly products.
Held in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, from October 15 to November 4, the fair has attracted more than 32,000 Chinese and international companies. Its first phase welcomed a record 189,000 overseas buyers from 214 countries and regions.
Chinese manufacturers are increasingly focusing on innovation and international market needs. Gree Electric Appliances, for example, has expanded its business from household air conditioners to low-carbon energy solutions covering industrial equipment, energy storage and cold-chain technologies.
One of its heat pump systems developed for European consumers can reduce annual electricity consumption by approximately 50 percent. Based on average European Union electricity prices, a household with a 150-square-meter home could save around 800 euros annually, with savings exceeding 1,000 euros in countries such as Germany.
Gree’s products now reach more than 200 countries and regions, serving approximately 600 million consumers. According to Zhu Lei, the company’s vice president and chief marketing officer, meeting consumer needs through quality products and services remains central to its international expansion.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang described China as a global “super seller,” emphasizing that affordable, high-quality Chinese products help improve purchasing power, enhance living standards and strengthen industrial development in trading partner countries.
According to China’s General Administration of Customs, the country’s goods exports reached 23.2 trillion yuan (approximately 3.46 trillion U.S. dollars) in the first nine months of 2026, representing year-on-year growth of 16.4 percent.
China’s export portfolio now covers a wide range of products, from large oil tankers and industrial robots to household appliances and portable filming equipment. Its extensive manufacturing supply chains also enable international businesses to develop customized products and access advanced production capabilities.
From 2012 to 2025, China exported approximately 39 billion U.S. dollars’ worth of textile machinery to developing countries, supporting the growth of textile manufacturing and exports in Southeast and South Asia.
The Canton Fair’s 70-year history reflects this transformation. When the first fair opened in 1957, agricultural products and handicrafts, including silk, tea and porcelain, accounted for 63.9 percent of export transactions by value. Machinery and electronic products became the largest export category in 1999. Today, consumer electronics, AI-powered devices and energy storage technologies are among the major attractions.
Innovation and sustainability are also becoming increasingly important. Approximately 64 percent of exhibitors at this year’s fair have adopted technologies such as artificial intelligence and the industrial internet. New products account for 23.2 percent of exhibits, while green products represent 26 percent, both reaching record proportions.
In the new energy vehicle exhibition area, GAC Group presented several models, including the AION i60, targeting overseas consumers looking for affordable transportation and reliable driving ranges. The company is also expanding its international presence by developing charging and energy storage networks to support customers in overseas markets.
Chinese technology is extending beyond manufacturing and transportation into education. Guangzhou-based CVTE showcased AI-powered teaching displays that transform complex lessons into visual presentations, alongside intelligent systems that help teachers prepare lesson plans, presentations and classroom activities.
The company has also emphasized the importance of local engagement. During a project in Vietnam in 2024, CVTE dispatched a seven-member team to work directly with local users for three days, helping ensure that the technology could be effectively integrated into classrooms.
Pascal Lamy, former director-general of the World Trade Organization, described the Canton Fair as an important platform connecting Chinese manufacturers with international businesses, consumers and markets.
As China’s manufacturing capabilities continue to advance, its role in global trade is expanding beyond supplying finished products. Through technological innovation, competitive pricing, customized manufacturing and overseas service networks, Chinese companies are increasingly providing international markets with both consumer goods and industrial solutions.
