The Canton Fair, regarded as the barometer of China’s foreign trade, concluded on the 5th. Official data showed that the number of overseas buyers attending this session increased by 17.3% compared to the same period last year, with a 3% year-on-year increase in intended export transaction amounts achieved on-site. This is the first Canton Fair since the start of Trump 2.0's tariff war, with major buyers and transaction amounts coming from Belt and Road countries.
According to the Securities Daily, official reports indicate that this session of the Canton Fair had 288,900 overseas buyers in attendance, a 17.3% increase compared to the 135th Canton Fair held in the same period in 2024.
Emerging markets were the primary source of visitors for the Canton Fair, with buyers from Belt and Road countries and regions totaling 187,500, accounting for 64.9%; BRICS countries had 72,400 buyers, a year-on-year increase of 24.1%; RCEP member countries had 64,800 buyers, a year-on-year increase of 6.9%; buyers from Europe and America numbered only 51,900, a year-on-year increase of 3.4%.
The intended export transactions at the Canton Fair amounted to $25.44 billion (RM 1076.64 billion), a year-on-year increase of 3%. Transactions with Belt and Road countries accounted for more than 60% of the total, serving as an important engine for the growth of transactions.
The full name of the Canton Fair is the 'China Import and Export Fair', held every spring and autumn, with each session divided into 3 phases, each lasting 5 days, totaling 21 days including the exhibition transition period.
Known as 'China's No. 1 Fair', the number of overseas buyers and the order volume are the most important indicators of the Canton Fair, usually representing the outlook for exports. The 137th Canton Fair opened after the U.S. Trump administration launched a tariff war against multiple countries, and thus, it attracted significant attention.