what is the canton fair in china

Introduction

The Canton Fair, officially known as the China Import and Export Fair since 2007 (formerly the Chinese Export Commodities Fair), is the oldest, largest, and most representative trade exhibition in China. Held bi-annually in the spring and autumn seasons since the spring of 1957 in Guangzhou (Canton), China, the fair is co-hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of China and the government of Guangdong Province, and organized by the China Foreign Trade Centre.

Scale and Influence

As China’s largest trade fair, its massive scale is comparable to the size of 71 Walmart Supercenters, serving as a global hub where buyers flock to stock the world’s shelves. Key statistics include:

• Total Exhibition Space: 1,185,000 square meters.
• Number of Booths: Over 60,400 standard stands (based on the 122nd Session).
• Exhibitors: Over 25,000 in total, including 24,429 of China’s best foreign trade corporations (private enterprises, factories, research institutions, and wholly foreign-owned enterprises) and 620 international exhibitors during the 122nd Session.
• Buyers: 191,950 visitors from 213 trading countries and regions (122nd Session).
• Business Turnover: Deals worth tens of billions of dollars are inked by the end of each fair. The 122nd Session recorded a business turnover of $30.16 billion USD.
• Health and Safety: Due to the massive number of attendees, strict health precautions have been taken in the past. For instance, in 2014, temperature checks were mandated before entering the fair to prevent the spread of Ebola.

Exhibition Structure and Schedule

The fair is held twice a year (Spring and Autumn), with each session divided into three phases to accommodate the massive variety of products.

• Venue: China Import and Export Fair (Pazhou) Complex, 380 Yuejiangzhong Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou 510335, China.
• Spring Session Dates:
  • Phase 1: April 15–19
  • Phase 2: April 23–27
  • Phase 3: May 1–5
• Autumn Session Dates:
  • Phase 1: October 15–19
  • Phase 2: October 23–27
  • Phase 3: October 31 – November 4

Product Categories

The National Pavilion (export section) of the Canton Fair sorts products into 16 categories, which are exhibited in 51 sections. Exhibitors and buyers do deals on over 150,000 to 160,000 different varieties of products.

• Phase 1: Electronics & Household Electrical Appliances, Lighting Equipment, Vehicles & Spare Parts, Machinery, Hardware & Tools, Energy & Resources, Chemical Products, Building Materials, and the International Pavilion.
• Phase 2: Consumer Goods, Gifts, and Home Decorations.
• Phase 3: Office Supplies, Cases & Bags, Recreation Products, Medical Devices and Health Products, Food, Shoes, Textiles & Garments, and the International Pavilion.