Canton Fair Goes Digital – Meet the Ups and Downs of Online Trade
Shenzhen, China – The legendary Canton Fair, a staple for buyers and sellers around the globe, took a giant leap into the future this week. With travel restrictions still kicking and traditional face‑to‑face meets on hold, the 25,000‑strong expo (yes, that many) went live in ten buzzing 24‑hour broadcast rooms. The result? A mix of triumph, hiccups, and a whole lot of “hello, world!
What the Numbers Say
- Export Turnover: ¥207.1 bn (S$40 bn) last October in Guangzhou.
- Buyers: 186,015 from 214 different countries.
- Switch to Online: The spring session, originally slated for April, finally kicked off on June 15.
Hardware & Software: Tencent on the Front
Big tech hero Tencent is providing cloud support for the entire 10‑day event. Talk to anyone in real time, shoot messages, and stream live. The company chose to stay quiet about the details, but the internet chatter is loud.
First‑Day Glitches – Sellers Speak Up
Elaine Gu, a marketer from AoGrand, which makes hand sanitizers, said she could “see buyers” but couldn’t actively chat with them. Four people popped into her chatroom on day one, far below expectations.
Some buyers were equally frustrated. Chris Sillitoe, a UK‑based sourcing guy, lamented that “no one really knows what’s going on” and that live streams for many manufacturers didn’t work. He added it’s a “tough time” finding out how it all runs.
Lucky Ren of another sanitizer firm tried a different approach: he’ll stream every night until 11 pm (1500 GMT) to cover all time zones. “First day maybe customers don’t know us,” he said.
What’s in the Pipeline?
Discounted digital booths, 15‑minute live pitches, and even text‑based Q&A sessions have been set up. Sellers are shuffling through the new format as the event carries on.
Keep Calm & Trade On
Despite the rough start, a lot of folks see potential. The trading event is a welcome innovation, and the feedback loop is real fast. So, if you’re able to plug into the network (and have Wi‑Fi that doesn’t do the “default waiting…” trick), the Canton Fair 2025 might just be your next big move.
While we’re juggling the pandemic updates, make sure you keep an eye on reliable news sources for the latest coronavirus info. Stay safe and keep trading!
