Canton Fair 140: phase 3 brings 12,000+ home, fashion and toy exhibitors through November 4

The third and final phase of the 140th Canton Fair opened in Guangzhou on October 31 and runs until November 4. According to CCTV Finance, the theme is "better life" (美好生活): toys and baby products, fashion, home textiles, stationery, and health and leisure, across 21 zones. The phase covers 515,000 m², 25,000 booths and more than 12,000 exhibiting companies. A trade-services area hosts more than 160 institutions offering design, digitalization and export support.

By 5 p.m. on the closing day of phase 2, the fair had received 278,000 overseas buyers from 218 countries and regions, 13.4% more than at the same point of the previous edition, Guangzhou Daily reported. In a November 3 report, CCTV said 494 major purchasing companies attended this edition, a record. The edition marks the fair's 70th anniversary.

Orders from the first two phases are already on production lines. CCTV reports strong demand for electric scooters and large-screen TVs, with growth led by Europe, the United States and the Middle East, and cites a Guangdong manufacturer assembling about 700 scooters for a South American customer. According to the broadcaster, the time from purchase intent to firm order is 30% shorter than in previous editions.

In phase 3, Shein set up a sourcing desk and recruited suppliers of dresses, menswear, denim, plus-size, lingerie, sleepwear, kidswear, swimwear and sportswear, according to Guangzhou Daily as republished by the Guangzhou city government. In the same report, a cosmetics exhibitor says its skincare line priced at US$1 to US$2 per unit is the most sought after by buyers from the Middle East and South America.

CSP take: for home, fashion and toy buyers, phase 3 is the most concentrated window of the half-year to compare suppliers. Reports of orders turning into production within weeks suggest that buyers negotiating after the fair may face tighter lead times. This reading is ours, not the sources'.