Canton Fair shows China's trade runs on a brand-new model

Three weeks of deals, demos and dazzling new gadgets are wrapping up in China's Guangzhou. 

The 140th Canton Fair, officially the China Import and Export Fair, closes its doors on November 4 after bringing 32,000 exhibitors to south China's Guangdong Province.

This year, the massive trade expo was all about the future: robots that can walk your dog, AI that helps you move and green tech that can power the world. 

Robots and wearables

The robotics zone was a major draw. At the booth of Hangzhou Taixi Intelligent Technology booth, overseas buyers lined up to try out a wearable exoskeleton designed to support the lower back and legs. 

Weighing about 2 kilograms, the device detects the user's movements and provides walking assistance. Founder Liang Linchao said it is the company's first flagship product to integrate its human-centered physical AI technology. 

Technological innovation is exploding across Chinese industries. At this year's fair, 64% of exhibitors integrated the industrial internet and AI into their R&D and production, and new products made up a record 23.2% of all exhibits.

Customs data reflects that boom. China's imports and exports of industrial robots, electronic components, computer parts and electrical equipment surged 58.9% year on year, topping 10 trillion yuan ($1.49 trillion) in the first three quarters of 2026. 

Services and green tech

Services are becoming a new growth area. For the first time, the fair's trade services zone covered all 10 major categories of producer services, including logistics, industrial design and cross-border financing. Official data shows 36.5% of exhibitors have begun integrating services into their business models.

Eco-friendly products are also in high demand as countries shift toward clean energy, green tech and decarbonizing their economies. Xiamen HiTHIUM Energy Storage Technology showcased its flagship long-duration energy storage products. CEO Wang Pengcheng said the company hoped to use the fair to bring China's long-duration energy storage solutions to a wider international audience, giving more countries access to stable, affordable clean energy.

Chongqing SUNDON Prefabricated Construction and Technology attracted buyers from Australia, Brazil and Saudi Arabia. Jia Xuehong, the company's planning and design director, said more than 300 buyers had reached preliminary agreements with them. 

China is playing its part in the global green transition by supplying a massive share of the world's renewable tech. Over the past decade, the country has provided more than 80% of the world's PV modules and 70% of its wind power equipment, helping drive down the cost of clean energy everywhere.

The Canton Fair shows Chinese trade is running on a band-new model, one moving toward higher-value products and more comprehensive services.

(With input from Xinhua)