A view of the China Import and Export Fair Complex in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province. This is the venue that holds the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, twice a year. Photo: VCG

The 139th China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, will open on April 15, with more than 30,000 enterprises set to participate. Meanwhile, about 30 global business associations have confirmed their attendance in the form of buyer delegations, the Global Times learned from the China Foreign Trade Centre (CFTC), the organizer of the Canton Fair, on Monday.

This edition features an exhibition area of 1.55 million square meters with 75,500 booths, attracting more than 30,000 corporate exhibitors.

A record number of companies applied for branded booths, with applications exceeding 6,000 for the first time, an increase of 21 percent from the previous edition in October 2025. Approximately 2,770 enterprises were selected for branded booths, up 7 percent from the last session. 

The average innovation score of selected projects of companies rose by 9 percent, reflecting stronger research and development capabilities and higher overall quality among exhibitors, according to the CFTC.

Building on the strong interest in service robots and smart medical products seen in the previous edition, the 139th Canton Fair will continue to emphasize the features of "new, green, and intelligent" of items showcased.

The upcoming session will maintain high-tech dedicated zones while introducing eight new specialized exhibition areas, including smart wearables, agricultural drones, integrated housing and courtyard facilities, as well as functional and tech-enhanced fabrics.

In terms of buyers, about 30 global partners of the Canton Fair have confirmed they will organize delegations to attend, including the US-China Chamber of Commerce, the China-Britain Business Council, the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce, the Peru-China Chamber of Commerce, and the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Australia). These groups plan to facilitate direct matchmaking between suppliers and their member buyers during the fair.

For example, members of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry have expressed interest in sourcing smartphones, computers, and household appliances to meet growing demand in Australia's consumer electronics market.

The Canton Fair has established partnerships with 227 leading industry associations, top procurement companies, and trade service organizations across 110 countries and regions worldwide, according to the CFTC.

In order to better serve participants, the Canton Fair has upgraded its mobile app to enhance the visitor experience. New artificial intelligence (AI)-powered features include AI-powered search, AI note-taking and scan-to-exchange business cards, and one-tap meal ordering. 

Navigation has become more precise, covering all 25 exhibition halls plus public areas with booth-level accuracy. The upgraded virtual assistant "ASKME" can handle AI-driven business services, intelligent itinerary planning, and instant responses to visitor inquiries. Visitors can also check real-time shuttle electric vehicle availability inside the venue for smoother travel between halls.

To support exhibitors' working capital needs, nine banks have launched tailored financial packages exclusively for the Canton Fair, with a total credit line of 300 billion yuan ($43.5 billion) already in place, according to the CFTC.

Global Times