On November 4, the 138th Canton Fair officially came to a close. Buyers from 223 countries and regions navigated through various exhibition zones, with the number of UK buyers rising from 3,000 last year to 4,000 this year — a remarkable 25% increase.
This session recorded the highest number of overseas buyers in the fair’s history, attracting more than 310,000 foreign buyers, up 7.5% from the previous session. The significant growth in UK buyer participation highlights the British market’s continued confidence in and demand for Chinese products.
01 Exhibition Highlights: Multiple Record-Breaking Indicators
Despite global economic uncertainties, the 138th Canton Fair achieved several new milestones. The total number of overseas buyers exceeded 310,000, marking a 7.5% increase over the previous fair.
Notable growth was seen across major regions, with buyer attendance from the EU, the Middle East, the United States and Brazil increasing by 32.7%, 13.9%, 14% and 33.2%, respectively.
02 UK Participation: Significant Increase in Buyers
As a key participating country, the UK delivered an especially strong performance this year. The number of UK buyers grew from around 3,000 last year to about 4,000 this year, representing a 25% increase.
This trend was already evident during the Canton Fair Promotion Conference in the UK. Li Peng, Minister Counsellor for Economic and Commercial Affairs at the Chinese Embassy in the UK, noted that UK companies have been active participants in the Canton Fair, with over 30,000 attendees in the past five years.
03 Trade Outcomes: Intended Export Deals Worth USD 25.65 Billion
The fair yielded substantial trade results, with on-site intended export transactions reaching USD 25.65 billion. Trade with Belt and Road partner countries was particularly vibrant, accounting for more than 60% of total intended export value.
The scale of participation was equally impressive, with 32,000 enterprises exhibiting 4.6 million products — of which new products, green products and items with independent intellectual property rights accounted for 23.3%, 23.5% and 23.9%, respectively.
04 Innovation Focus: Technology and Green Development Lead the Way
This edition of the Canton Fair showcased the integration of technological innovation and green development. AI-driven solutions, intelligent manufacturing and low-carbon technologies were key themes throughout the fair. In the emerging technology sector alone, 632 new product launches were held.
05 Global Response: Strong Confidence from International Buyers
Jonathan Mitchell, Director-General of the UK’s 48 Group Club, remarked that the Canton Fair is not only a platform for product trading but also an important hub for cooperation and exchange.
A total of 158 global business organizations participated in groups — a 12% increase compared with the previous fair. Among the 550 buyer delegations, 406 leading companies such as Target (USA) and Carrefour (France) attended, up 7.9%.
At the fair, one UK buyer noted: “I come to the Canton Fair every year. There are always surprising new products and technologies to discover.”
The 139th Canton Fair is scheduled to be held from April 15 to May 5, 2026, in Guangzhou, where China’s “No. 1 Trade Fair” will once again showcase the resilience and vitality of China’s foreign trade to the world.