Spring Canton Fair, Phase I

The 137th China Import and Export Fair (Spring 2025) was held in Guangzhou in three phases from April 15 to May 5, under the themes of “Advanced Manufacturing,” “Quality Home Products,” and “A Better Life.” The total exhibition area spanned 1.55 million square meters, with approximately 74,000 booths, and the number of participating enterprises exceeded 30,000 for the first time.

Record-Breaking Scale and Popularity: As of May 4, a total of 289,000 overseas buyers from 219 countries and regions attended, up 17.3% compared with the 135th session. Among them, 172,000 were new buyers, accounting for nearly 60%. Buyers from Belt and Road partner countries numbered 187,000, representing 64.9%, while those from BRICS nations increased by 24.1%. On-site intended transaction value reached US$25.44 billion, a 3% rise, with transactions involving Belt and Road countries accounting for over 60%.

Outstanding Results in the First Phase on “Advanced Manufacturing”: The first phase concluded on April 19, focusing on advanced manufacturing and showcasing cutting-edge innovations such as artificial intelligence, smart manufacturing, and new energy equipment. By April 19, 148,600 overseas buyers from 216 countries and regions had attended, a 20.2% increase over the same period of the 135th session. A newly introduced service robot zone emerged as the highlight, bringing together 46 industry-leading companies; humanoid robots, robotic dogs, and intelligent bionic hands drew significant attention and hands-on interest from visitors.

China’s Smart Manufacturing Shines Globally: Over 9,700 enterprises holding national-level high-tech or specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative “Little Giant” designations participated—up 20% from the previous session. Haier unveiled its X11 washing machine, jointly developed across China, Australia, Europe, and the United States, achieving a 30% improvement in energy efficiency. iFLYTEK’s VIAS intelligent cockpit human–machine interaction evaluation robot boosted testing efficiency by a factor of ten. Meanwhile, Suzhou Pangjia Robot secured more than 20 orders on the first day, totaling nearly one million dollars.

Regional Trade Delegations Deliver Substantial Results: Anhui’s trade delegation organized 334 enterprises to exhibit, securing intended transaction orders worth nearly US$300 million. iFLYTEK showcased the AiScope X2 AI industrial endoscope, breaking foreign monopolies. Hefei’s Buno Solar conducted over 300 rounds of business talks, resulting in US$30 million in signed preliminary agreements. Jinan’s trade delegation included 114 enterprises, welcoming more than 26,000 overseas buyers—an increase of 16% over the previous session.

Accelerating Integration of Domestic and Foreign Trade: During the fair, e-commerce platforms such as Alibaba hosted special matchmaking events under the “Foreign Trade Selection” initiative, while Taotian Group launched six measures to facilitate the transition of premium export products into domestic sales. Downloads of the Canton Fair app surpassed 148,000, boosting matching efficiency by 40%. Furthermore, 58.8% of exhibiting enterprises leveraged big data and AI tools to transform their industrial and supply chains, and over 60% utilized digital solutions to secure foreign trade orders.