Visitors explore the Japanese exhibitors’ booths in the overseas products zone at the 33rd East China Fair, March 3, 2025. [Photo/East China Fair]
The 33rd East China Fair (ECF), held at the Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNIEC) from March 1 to 4, concluded with receiving a large number of overseas exhibitors, highlighting the growing popularity of the platform among international businesses.
The ECF, one of the largest and most international trade fairs for light textile and light industrial products in China, attracted 364 overseas exhibitors from 13 countries and regions, an increase from 326 last year.
The event showcased the resilience and innovation of China’s foreign trade, with a total of 3,250 exhibitors from both domestic and international markets participating.
The exhibition spanned 115,000 square meters, encompassing 10 halls at the SNIEC, and featured four specialized sub-exhibitions: clothing and apparel, textile fabrics, home goods, and decoration and gifts, along with dedicated zones for cross-border e-commerce and overseas exhibitors.
The event attracted 45,253 buyers from 130 countries and regions, further solidifying its global reach. Domestic buyers increased by 12.93 percent compared with the previous year, while international buyers saw a 10.99 percent increase.
Notably, the number of Japanese buyers surged by 50.25 percent, driven by the fair’s growing influence in the region, while the newly established Southeast Asian special matchmaking event resulted in a 28.13 percent increase in Southeast Asian buyers. The fair generated an estimated $2.1 billion in intended orders during its run.
The fair facilitated numerous business matchmaking sessions, contributing to a surge in cooperation intentions.
The matchmaking session at the 33rd East China Fair connects buyers and sellers in a professional setting. [Photo/East China Fair]
The new Southeast Asian special matchmaking event was particularly successful, fostering prospective collaborations between 15 buyers and 71 exhibitors through 96 rounds of discussions, demonstrating the growing interest in exploring new markets.
The ECF also featured dedicated zones for cross-border e-commerce, with over 120 platform companies participating, including a 10 percent increase in service providers compared with the previous year.
,https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-Latest-WhatsNew/20250306/f2c546aa0e8840c58880e5e5780fe0bc.html