For foreign buyers, attending trade shows is by far the most direct and efficient way to find suppliers and new products. China has the title of the world's factory, so which exhibitions are worthy of attention for buyers who do electronic products, as described below.
I.China Import and Export Fair（The Canton Fair)
1.Introduction to Canton Fair.
The full name of Canton Fair is China Import and Export Fair. Founded in the spring of 1957, it is held in Guangzhou every spring and autumn, jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce and the Guangdong Provincial People's Government, and organized by the China Foreign Trade Centre. It is the oldest comprehensive international trade event in China with the largest scale, the most comprehensive range of goods, the largest number of buyers (among the most widely distributed countries and regions), the best transaction effect and the best reputation.
Attendees of the exhibition will need to obtain the relevant documents in advance to enter the pavilion. The six main types of documents are as follows.
Exhibitor's badge
Exhibitor's delegate card
Buyer's badge
Buyer’s delegate card
Domestic buyer's card
Service Provider Card
(1) Exhibitor's card
It is valid for 5 days and can be used for unlimited times during the exhibition period.
(2) Exhibitor's delegate card
For temporary admission of exhibitors or visitors and is the most common type of temporary pass. It is mostly used for exhibitors or visitors who are visiting for one or two days. The pass is valid for an unlimited number of entries and exits and can be used throughout the museum. Advantages: daily fee, fast issuance, flexible choice of exhibition time, low price.
(3)Purchaser's badge
This is a card used by people from overseas companies (compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) to visit and purchase. A small number of places are available for mainland Chinese visitors. Wearing this card will make it easier to obtain business card information and negotiate business with exhibitors. During the exhibition period, you can receive the exhibitor directory for free at the service counter with this card. Advantages: unlimited use during the Canton Fair (valid for three years and six sessions), good value for money, originally Chinese passport required (and a record of visa abroad).
(4)Buyer’s delegate card
This card is used by staff of foreign companies based in China. A limited number of places are available for mainlanders to apply for this card, which can be used in the first, second and third sessions of the event. The card is valid for an unlimited number of entries and exits and can be used throughout the pavilion. Wearing this card makes it easier to obtain business card information from exhibitors and negotiate business.
(5) Domestic Buyer's Card
The domestic buyers' pass is valid for visiting and purchasing in the pavilion. The card is valid for an unlimited number of entries and exits and is commonly used throughout the pavilion. Wear it and you can obtain business card information and negotiate business with exhibitors.
(6) Service Provider Card
For use by personnel of institutions engaged in trade services and service personnel in the pavilion. Can be used for general use in the current session I, II and III. The number of entries and exits is unlimited during the validity period of the card, and it can be used throughout the pavilion. This card can be used normally during the preparation and the withdrawal of the exhibition.
Suppliers usually apply for an exhibitor's card and buyers for a purchaser's card. If you find it troublesome to apply for the documents, you can find a third-party organization to handle them on your behalf, or you can leave a message to inquire about the process, so we will not go into details here.
2.Product range
There are three offline Canton fairs, with exhibitors of different types of products attending the corresponding class time fairs respectively. The Canton Fair is divided into 2 sessions during the year, spring and autumn, each lasting 15 days. Each fair is divided into three sessions of 5 days each, depending on the product category. This year, due to the epidemic, only one session was held.
Below shows the product categories for each phase, with electronics products belonging to Phase I, i.e., exhibiting at the beginning of the Canton Fair.
3.The role of Canton Fair for buyers.
For the buyers, Canton Fair is a very grand product exhibition. Different buyers who come to attend the Canton Fair, will have different harvest.
(1) For buyers who are just starting out in foreign trade.
If you want to understand China, the world's factory, then attend a Canton Fair, and you can have a general understanding of the corresponding industry in China's main suppliers. And you can also find the well-known brands of your country's OEMs in China, I believe it will be full of harvest. Of course, as a novice buyer, it is advisable to take a look at the stalls of suppliers that correspond to your own market, to get a feel for the basic starting quantities of different products in the market and information on basic material configurations. You can also ask for quotations to get an idea of the average price level in the market.
(2) For buyers who are already senior in the industry.
Attend the Canton Fair can very quickly understand the supplier's new product situation, the first time to understand the industry's new products, or direct sampling, for next year's market layout of new products. Any buyer with a certain scale, wants their own company can have the right of priority selection. Many head buyers will meet the market expectations of new products for underwriting agreements, so that competitors can not sell the same products, and thus monopolize the market, access to selection advantages.
This type of buyer gives an additional purpose of developing new alternative suppliers. As sales volumes continue to increase, head buyers often have their own PLAN Bs, which they use to screen their alternate suppliers through trade shows. These alternate suppliers will have orders with the purchaser, but usually not for large amounts, just to maintain the relationship. In the event of problems with the main supplier, or a shortage of capacity, the orders are transferred to the standby supplier.
(3) For purchasers who have some experience in this industry.
These buyers have a certain knowledge of the products in the industry and will have special product requirements such as color, logo and appearance as the company develops. These central buyers have certain development potential and are usually looking for long-term joint suppliers through the fair to ensure the long-term quality and stability of their products, as well as guaranteed delivery time.
Canton Fair official website: https://www.cantonfair.org.cn/en/
II.China Yiwu International Commodities (Standards) Fair
1.Introduction of China Yiwu International Commodities (Standards) Fair
The China Yiwu International Commodities (Standard) Fair is co-organised by the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China, the People's Government of Zhejiang Province, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), the Standardisation Administration Committee, the China Light Industry Federation and the China General Chamber of Commerce. Yiwu, the largest distribution centre for small commodities in the world. Yiwu is also one of the wealthiest cities in China and its small commodity market has been identified by international authorities such as the United Nations, the World Bank and Morgan Stanley as the largest in the world.
The China Yiwu International Small Commodity Fair (Yiwu Fair) is known as the largest, most influential and fruitful small commodity fair in China, and has been held annually since 1995.
2.The range of products.
The product range of Yiwu Exhibition is also very wide. It includes hardware, electromechanics, electronic and electrical appliances, daily necessities, knitted textiles, craft accessories, cultural and office supplies, toys, sports and outdoor leisure goods, etc. The compulsory exhibition usually lasts for 5 days and is usually held in late October every year.
3.Usefulness for buyers
Yiwu exhibition time is in the autumn after the Canton Fair. If buyers did not find the right products in the Canton Fair or need to find more suppliers as a reference for a certain type of products. Or if you didn’t fine suppliers you can cooperate with because of the MOQ, then Yiwu Fair is a good supplement.
China Yiwu International Small Commodities (Standard) Fair official website: http://en.yiwufair.com/
III.（CHINASHOP) The China Retail Trade Fair
1.Introduction to China Retail Trade Fair
China Retail Trade Fair (CHINASHOP) is co-organized by China Chain Store Association (CCFA) and Beijing Zhihe Lianchuang Exhibition Co. Since its inception in 1999. The exhibition has experienced 22 years of development and has now become an annual professional exhibition for the retail industry.
China Retail Trade Fair is held at the National Convention and Exhibition Centre (Shanghai). Located in East China, Shanghai is one of the four municipalities directly under the Central Government of China and is the center of China's economy, finance, trade, shipping, science and technology innovation. At the same time its border with Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces has a good retail market environment and a large number of excellent retail equipment and technology companies.
2.Product range
The scope of China Retail Expo covers high-end retail brands in China, cold chain for retailers in China, supply chain and logistics processing equipment, retail commercial cold chain, retail-oriented display props and commercial lighting, etc. The specific exhibition areas and product categories are listed below.
3.Usefulness for buyers.
China Retail Trade Fair represents even more foresight and innovation in the retail industry. It is an experience bazaar rich in fireworks, with supermarkets as the mainstay, integrating a variety of businesses such as food courts, catering and lifestyle services; using the latest retail technology, integrating data and enhancing supermarkets' ability to differentiate their operations; and helping retailers find the key points for future digital upgrading. Buyers can immerse themselves in an experiential environment and have a better planning and layout of their own product chain.
The official website of China Retail Expo: http://en.chinashop.cc/
IV.Hong Kong Electronics Fair
1.Introduction to the Hong Kong Electronics Fair.
The Hong Kong Electronics Fair is an exhibition of electronic products organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and is the largest spring electronic exhibition in Asia. It is held in April every year, generally before the annual spring Canton Fair. So electronic buyers can first go to participate in the Hong Kong Electronics Fair, and then participate in the Canton Fair. Compared with the Canton Fair for electronic products, the Hong Kong Electronics Fair has a higher degree of product aggregation and professionalism.
2.Product range.
The product range covered by the Hong Kong Electronics Fair contains the following 10 major categories.
3.Usefulness for purchasers.
As an electronic product buyer, the Hong Kong Electronics Fair is an exhibition well worth visiting. The Hong Kong region is very international, and the professionalism and technology of the products exhibited are at the forefront of the international scene. For buyers looking for smart electronics and high-tech electronic products, the Hong Kong Electronics Fair is sure to benefit you greatly.
The official website of the Hong Kong Electronics Fair:
https://event.hktdc.com/fair/hkelectronicsfairse-en/HKTDC-Hong-Kong-Electronics-Fair-Spring-Edition/
V.China Electronics Fair
1.Introduction to China Electronics Fair
Electronic components are the cornerstone of supporting the development of the information technology industry and the key to ensuring the security and stability of the industry chain supply chain. 5G organically combined with the industrial Internet and intelligent terminals will provide strong support for the digitalization, networking and intelligent upgrading of the industry. China Electronics Fair electronic components for technology traction, expand the Internet of Things, intelligent manufacturing, 5G, defense, new energy vehicles, big data, artificial intelligence, information security and other core technologies of application innovation.
2.Product range
Electronic components
Passive components, discrete semiconductor components, connectors, 5G core components, special electronic components electronic materials, etc. Integrated circuits and applications. Microcontrollers, third generation semiconductors, FPGAs, power management, digital-to-analog converters, sensors, etc.
5G & AIoT Applications & Smart Manufacturing Pavilion
5G & AloT Applications. 5G, AI, NB-LOT, Cat.1, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, ZETA and other technologies in industrial internet, smart networked cars, smart communities, smart homes, smart cities and other scenarios.
Intelligent manufacturing and high-end equipment. Electronic production equipment, SMT assembly and systems, instrumentation, 3D printing, etc.
Optoelectronics. Infrared technology applications, laser intelligent manufacturing, optical communication and intelligent perception, optics, precision optical manufacturing, optoelectronic inspection and test measurement, etc.
Small Motor Pavilion
Electric motors, motor control systems and equipment, magnetic materials, special robots, etc.
3.Usefulness for buyers
China Electronics Fair has a very high degree of specialization. In the electronic product segment, professional buyers can directly find their own segment in the exhibition.
The China Electronics Fair official website: http://shanghai.icef.com.cn/en/
The above is an introduction to the main exhibitions in China involving electronic products. Recently, due to the epidemic. Foreign buyers coming to China for exhibitions need to undergo isolation or nucleic acid testing, and some exhibitions have adopted an online mode at the same time, so interested buyers can try product browsing online. We also welcome private messages to learn about the process of exhibiting materials.