The 139th China Import and Export Fair (hereinafter referred to as the "Canton Fair") opened on April 15 at the Pazhou Canton Fair Complex. Over 32,000 enterprises participated, including more than 11,000 high-quality enterprises with designations such as "Specialized, Sophisticated, Distinctive, and Innovative" or "Single Champion" – both exceeding previous records. Among them, 60% own their own brands, nearly 20% have made outbound investments, and over one-third are transitioning from selling products to exporting "products + services"...
From demand to markets, changes have always been happening. But by adhering to innovation-driven development and staying committed to openness and cooperation, "constancy" has also created more possibilities for enterprises.
Observing from the perspective of enterprises may offer a more vivid picture.
Over the course of ten sessions, Chengdu Topson Technology Co., Ltd. has gone through many generations of product iterations in the pet sector. Its current products are smarter, more convenient, and more worry-free. According to Huang Jianhao, the company's Foreign Trade Supervisor, this is because market demand has shifted and technological innovation has accelerated. "But it seems nothing has changed – we are still deeply cultivating this market, still proactively striving to understand user needs, and still insisting on responding to market calls through innovation-driven approaches."
Change
Markets are changing, and products are changing too.
Changes can be seen in the statistics from the Chengdu trade delegation: overall, the number of enterprises applying for booths increased by 62.26% compared to the previous session. In particular, among the participating enterprises, 54 were high-tech or "Specialized, Sophisticated, Distinctive, and Innovative" quality enterprises, accounting for 36.5% – a year-on-year increase of 29%, with an overall upward and positive trend.
In interviews, the "changes" mentioned by enterprises echoed this trend.
The vast Canton Fair venue turned smart electric suitcases into a "must-have fair exploration tool," winning over countless fans. At the booth of Chengdu Dongfang Zhixiang Technology Co., Ltd., crowds gathered, with a steady stream of foreign buyers coming to inquire, test-ride, or place orders for electric suitcases – so much so that a scheduled video interview with Xing Yafei, the company's Vice President of Channels, could not find a filming spot due to the congestion.
During a "squeezed-in" interview, Xing Yafei said that from pocket scooters to suitcases, and now to electric suitcases with APP connectivity, every iteration has been driven by real-life scenarios. "Frequent business travel, short but high-frequency stays, and the inconvenience of carrying heavy luggage at exhibitions – it is precisely these needs that have won us favor with many consumers."
Cars were one of the key attractions for overseas buyers at the Canton Fair.
In Hall 8.1 of Area A, Wang Xiangyu, General Manager of Yiwei New Energy Technology (Chengdu) Co., Ltd., was particularly busy. Unlike previous exhibitions, this time he specially brought a Chengdu-made Jetta VS7, and the booth was constantly crowded with inquiring buyers. "In just a few hours on the morning of opening day, nearly 40 groups of buyers came to consult, and many expressed interest in cooperation – the results far exceeded expectations!" Wang's tone was full of delight.
He told reporters that changes in market demand have forced enterprises to upgrade their service models. Today, regions like Russia and Algeria have strong demand for second-hand cars, and as overseas buyers' awareness of Chinese brands deepens, "as the operator of the China (Sichuan · Shuangliu) Second-Hand Car Export Base, we are promoting a shift from 'selling products' to 'selling services.' We focus on high-quality vehicle delivery and pay even more attention to full-chain services such as preparation and after-sales support. Through overseas digital promotion, we are making ourselves known to more buyers."
Denis, a Russian buyer standing nearby, listened to the introduction and said in halting Chinese, word by word: "Very beautiful, very like, should buy." Those simple words were perhaps the best recognition of Chengdu enterprises' upgraded products and services.
Constancy
Understanding market demand and adhering to innovation-driven approaches.
Markets are changing, and tracks are changing, but what remains unchanged is Chengdu enterprises' commitment to deeply cultivating markets, understanding demand, and persisting in innovation.
In today's fast-paced life, more and more people are drawn to the warm companionship and fun interaction that pets bring. Along with consumption upgrades, the pet economy has surged. At the booth of Chengdu Topson Technology Co., Ltd., buyers from different countries and regions came in an endless stream, carefully examining product specifications.
"For this Canton Fair, we brought smart pet products, including smart litter boxes, dryers, pet water fountains, and our newly developed smart integrated feeder," said Huang Jianhao. He noted that the standout feature of this self-developed feeder is its ability to supply both water and food simultaneously, as well as enable two-way communication – precisely meeting the refined needs of pet owners. "This product has already been exported to multiple European countries and regions, and we have exclusive distribution agreements with several large foreign supermarket chains."
Intelligence and branding are the future trends for pet products. In Huang's view, the core of all this lies in a deep understanding of market demand. "No matter how the market changes, we must continue to deeply understand the habits, preferences, and specific needs of consumers in different countries and regions, and stay close to usage scenarios to innovate and develop good products. That cannot change."
Inside the exhibition hall, crowds surged, and at almost every Chengdu enterprise booth, overseas buyers could be seen – some arriving in wave after wave.
Pan Tao, Sales Manager of Sichuan Green Eternal New Energy Co., Ltd., was at his booth explaining the performance specifications of each charging product in detail to buyers. "After the last Canton Fair, we secured quite a few orders, and the results were very good. More importantly, we also opened up new markets in Argentina, Bolivia, and elsewhere, which has strengthened our confidence in expanding overseas."
Beside the booth, several best-selling AC charging piles caught the attention of many buyers. Pan Tao specifically mentioned that a new model was customized according to the needs of Russian clients, featuring a built-in meter for more precise measurement, perfectly matching local market requirements. "Product performance is important, but understanding the real needs of customers is even more crucial. That is also the key to our products' continued strong sales."
