The 138th Canton Fair opens in Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong Province, on October 15, 2025, with a total exhibition space of 1.55 million square meters. Photo: Chi Jingyi/GT
The 138th Canton Fair concluded on Tuesday, drawing more than 310,000 global buyers — setting a new attendance record. The on-site intended export transactions reached $25.65 billion, official statistics showed. This showcased the resilience and vitality of China's foreign trade, sending a clear message to the world about China's firm determination to advance high-level opening-up and create a fresh vision of win-win cooperation, said the organizer.
According to official statistics released on Tuesday, more than 310,000 overseas buyers from 223 countries and regions attended the 138th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, commonly known as Canton Fair, up 7.5 percent from the previous session held in April.
Of which, 214,000 buyers are from partner countries of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, accounting for 69 percent of total and up 9.4 percent from the 137th edition.
Meanwhile, the number of buyers from several regions has witnessed a significant growth. Buyers from the EU grew by 32.7 percent from the previous session, while buyers from the Middle East growing by 13.9 percent and from the US up by 14 percent. Buyers from Brazil grew by 33.2 percent.
In addition, 158 business organizations attended in groups, up 12 percent. A total of 550 buyer delegations attended the event, including some global leading retailers, up 7.9 percent.
On-site intended export transactions reached $25.65 billion, maintaining growth momentum. Among which, transactions with BRI partner countries surpassed 60 percent, according to the organizer.
This demonstrated overseas buyers' trust and confidence in China's products and economy.
"The true value of the Canton Fair goes beyond the products on display. It lies in the people we meet - the minds behind the innovation, the entrepreneurs driving transformation, and the business representatives who bring China's supply chains to life. Here, relationships drive strategy. Conversations spark collaboration. Shared ambition turns into tangible progress. Every handshake and conversation can spark a partnership that redefines our business trajectory," Stefan Hiergeist, country director of Lidl & Kaufland Asia, the sourcing arm of Lidl International and part of the Schwarz Group, Europe's largest retail group, at the opening reception of the 138th Canton Fair on October 14.
Amid profound adjustments in the global trade landscape and multiple challenges to foreign trade development, the 138th Canton Fair's counter-trend growth not only demonstrated the resilience and vitality of China's foreign trade, injecting stability into global economic and trade development, but also conveyed to the world China's firm determination to expand high-level opening-up and create a new landscape of win-win cooperation, said the organizer.
