Foreign visitors walk by booths in an exhibition hall during the Canton Fair in Guangzhou October 23, 2023. — Reuters picGUANGZHOU, Oct 30 — Foreign buyers returned in force for the autumn round of the world’s largest trade show, heading towards pre-Covid numbers, but Chinese sellers said orders remain low as Christmas nears, with few expecting global demand to recover soon.
Holmes was scouring the glass and ceramic products among tens of thousands of booths selling everything from tents and kitchen worktops to goblin costumes.“With inflation coming down, one would hope that things will get a bit easier, the current situation will improve, and at that point the consumer will get more confidence.
“Everyone is affected, because the price of electricity has gone up a lot, and the war with Russia and Ukraine is still going on, and now with Israel, a lot of people are really scared,” said Jimmy Chen, the boss of Chengkuo Group. The most recent trade data showed China’s slump in exports and imports was gradually easing, as exports in September declined 6.2 per cent from a year ago, a moderation from August’s drop of 8.8 per cent.
Xiao Haicheng, of Foshan Gaoming Yuehua Sanitary Ware, said the maker of jacuzzis and luxury showers plans to push sales to countries participating in the Belt and Road initiative, to help offset this year’s revenue drop of 30 per cent in sales to Europe, its main market.