Published by ChinaMNC ยท Huarong
Canton Fair 140th Session Opens in Guangzhou: What Foreign Founders Need to Know
The 140th Canton Fair opened on October 15 in Guangzhou with roughly 32,000 exhibitors and about 340,000 overseas buyers expected. Here is a practical breakdown of the facts for foreign founders running or registering a company in China.
What Happened
The 140th session of the China Import and Export Fair, widely known as the Canton Fair, opened in Guangzhou on October 15. According to the source report, about 32,000 companies are exhibiting this session, and roughly 340,000 overseas buyers are attending to source goods.
For foreign founders who have set up or are considering setting up a company in China, the fair remains one of the most concentrated opportunities in the calendar to meet suppliers, compare manufacturers and test product categories in person.
Phase One Focus: Advanced Manufacturing
The first phase is themed around advanced manufacturing. More than 12,000 exhibitors are participating in this phase, including over 6,000 higher-quality exhibitors described in the source as high-tech enterprises, specialized and sophisticated ("little giant") firms, and single-product champions.
That concentration matters for founders sourcing technical components or production equipment, because the first phase is where industrial and technology-oriented suppliers cluster rather than consumer goods suppliers.
Exhibition Themes
The first phase is organized around three trends highlighted in the source: newness, green development and intelligence. It focuses on global sourcing hot spots including new energy, smart manufacturing and embodied intelligence.
- 17 new and future industry zones, covering areas such as service robots, drones and display technology.
- New quality productive forces on display, including new-type energy storage, high-end chips and AI visualization products.
Trade Services Area
In the trade services exhibition area, nine trade service zones are organized around producer services. The source states that this is the first time all ten major categories of producer services are covered.
For foreign founders, this is relevant beyond sourcing. Producer services typically include the support functions a company needs to operate, so the trade services area can be a useful place to identify service providers for areas such as logistics, certification, design, finance or other operational needs. The source does not specify which individual categories are included, so founders should verify details on site.
Schedule and New Product Launches
The 140th Canton Fair runs from October 15 to November 4 and is held in three phases. Organizers plan more than 700 new product launch events during the session, and the number of products released is up 15% compared with the previous figure cited in the source.
A new product launch exhibition area has been set up for the first time. For founders evaluating suppliers or scouting categories, these launches can serve as an efficient way to see new offerings before committing to sourcing discussions.
Practical Takeaways for Foreign Founders
- Plan around phases. The event is split into three phases between October 15 and November 4. Phase one is centered on advanced manufacturing, so match your attendance to the categories you actually need.
- Target quality exhibitors. With more than 6,000 exhibitors in phase one classified as high-tech, specialized and sophisticated, or single-product champions, founders can prioritize meetings with these firms.
- Use the trade services area. The nine producer services zones and the first full coverage of ten major producer service categories can help you connect with operational service providers, not just product suppliers.
- Watch the launch zone. More than 700 new product launch events and a first-time dedicated launch area give founders early visibility into new products and supplier capabilities.
- Verify before contracting. The source provides attendance and exhibitor figures but no details on individual companies. Founders should conduct their own due diligence on any supplier or service provider before signing contracts or making payments.
Why This Matters for Company Registration and Operations
Foreign founders often use large trade fairs to decide whether and how to establish a China-based entity. The scale reported here, about 32,000 exhibitors and roughly 340,000 overseas buyers, indicates a large pool of potential partners in one place. However, the source does not address registration procedures, tax rules, visas or investment requirements, and founders should not treat fair attendance as a substitute for professional advice on establishing and operating a company in China.
The source report is attributed to journalists Luo Shanshan, Li Gang and Hong Qiuting, and was published on the Hunan Provincial People's Government portal on October 16, 2026.
This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.