The second phase of the 140th Canton Fair entered its second day on Oct. 24. Focused on "quality home living," the exhibition halls were bustling as global buyers compared samples, negotiated face to face and, in many cases, confirmed intended orders on opening day.
Pablo Ramos, a construction materials buyer from the United States, was attending the Canton Fair for the first time. His company has long sourced from China and worked closely with Chinese suppliers, but had never had the chance to verify product quality on site.
At the fair, Ramos and his colleagues examined home products in detail and held in-depth talks with exhibitors. After comparing samples repeatedly, they finalized their first order on the spot.
"This trip is special for us. We have been buying Chinese products for a long time, but had never seen the quality with our own eyes, so we came to inspect on site. Working with everyone has been pleasant and very friendly," Ramos said. "This first order is about 200,000 dollars, but from now to the end of 2027 we are willing to spend about 8 million dollars."
Armando Hasbegu, a buyer from Albania, also secured intended orders on opening day. Moving from booth to booth, he selected home building materials, favoring several products for their design, appearance and material quality before sitting down with a Chinese exhibitor to agree on cooperation.
"I like bedroom cabinets, kitchen cabinets, soft furnishings and doors. The designs here are excellent -- beautiful, comfortable in feel and solidly made. The order will be finalized tomorrow with the supplier for residential projects," he said.
Exhibitor Lin Dongping said the company's newest smart bathtub received multiple orders as soon as the show opened, with interest from Northern Europe, North America and South America. "Intended orders are worth about 200,000 to 300,000," she said.
Ke Xiuqin, an exhibitor in foreign trade logistics, said the second half of the year is traditionally peak shipping season, and the fair has amplified demand. "Customers now have to book one to two weeks in advance. Orders placed today will be scheduled for next weekend at the earliest, and our orders are up about 20 percent over last year," she said.
The second phase runs until Oct. 27, with forums, new product launches and award showcases built around digital intelligence, green development and specialization.
