The 137th Canton Fair Opened in Guangzhou On April 15.
The current Canton Fair is being held in three phases from April 15 to May 5 in Guangzhou, featuring 55 exhibition zones and 172 product sections across a total exhibition area of 1.55 million square meters. With approximately 74,000 booths and 31,000 participating enterprises, this edition marks several milestones: The export exhibition area comprises nearly 73,000 booths with participating enterprises surpassing 30,000 for the first time - an increase of nearly 900 compared to the previous session. The import exhibition area hosts about 1,600 booths from 736 enterprises across 50 countries and regions.
The venue was bustling with crowds and vibrant energy. The first phase, themed "Advanced Manufacturing," showcased a range of high-tech and high-value-added products. Smart home appliances, robotics, consumer electronics, and new energy vehicles drew particular attention from international buyers, emerging as focal points of the exhibition.
As of noon on April 17, the 137th Canton Fair has attracted over 110,000 overseas buyers from 216 countries and regions worldwide, representing a 10% increase compared to the same period of the 135th session.
The Pazhou International Convention and Exhibition Center witnessed massive foot traffic, with the newly established service robotics zone experiencing particularly overwhelming visitor numbers. Covering 4,200 square meters, this dedicated robotics area became the event's central attraction, featuring 46 enterprises presenting cutting-edge products including embodied robots and commercial service robots.
Exhibitors showcased core technologies: Autonomous navigation-enabled robot dogs demonstrated real-time warehouse inspections, bionic robot dogs with tactile feedback accurately simulated pet behaviors, while humanoid robots emerged as the top attraction, drawing constant crowds.
"These first five hours have seen unprecedented enthusiasm," said an event organizer. "We've already secured multiple high-profile partnerships with industry leaders across industrial manufacturing, electronic appliances, and smart education sectors."
Recognized as the world's largest comprehensive trade fair, the Canton Fair is regarded by industry professionals not only as a barometer of global trade but also as a crucial engine for China's foreign trade stabilization and market expansion.
Regarding 2025 foreign trade prospects, several companies noted that while international sales remain their primary revenue source, the fair has helped them cultivate clients from emerging markets including Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Orders from these regions are growing rapidly, promising substantial future contributions to revenue streams.
Amid increased global trade uncertainties exacerbated by factors including U.S. reciprocal tariff policies, the fairgrounds remained vibrant with active negotiations. When questioned about potential impacts of U.S. tariffs, multiple buyers emphatically stated these measures would not substantially affect their procurement decisions or business operations.
"The scale here is incredible, with numerous suppliers showing strong partnership potential. This is very interesting and exciting," commented a Chilean machinery equipment buyer, attending his first Canton Fair despite years of collaboration with Chinese suppliers. He emphasized: "China's robust supply chain capabilities present limitless opportunities for my company." Regarding U.S. tariffs, he remained confident his business would remain unaffected.
Australian buyer Peter, a fair participant since 2008, shared his experience: "I return each year to discover new innovations." He praised the event's organization and services as "excellent in every aspect." When addressing U.S. trade policies, Peter described them as "utter madness," criticizing that "they act solely in self-interest without considering others' benefits."
