Nearly 4 in 10 Canton Fair home‑goods exhibitors call themselves traders

Of the 8,085 home and kitchen exhibitors that state a company type in the autumn 2026 Canton Fair directory, 3,108 (38%) describe themselves as foreign trade companies, according to a Standard Trade analysis of all 9,843 profiles in the category.¹ Another 1,297 (16%) say “industry and trade,” a label that usually means a factory that also resells other plants’ goods. The 140th fair opens in Guangzhou on Oct 15 and runs in three phases to Nov 4.²

Those are the companies’ own words. The real trader share is probably higher, since a trading company gains more from ticking “manufacturer” than a factory gains from ticking “trader.”

Which phase should a home-goods buyer attend?

Phase 2, Oct 23 to 27. Kitchenware, ceramics, household items, home décor and furniture all exhibit that week, and 5,582 of the 7,986 home and kitchen exhibitors with a booth number (70%) are in it.^1,3 Home textiles and carpets come a week later in Phase 3.

Source: Canton Fair (dates); Chinese Embassy in Australia, “The 140th Canton Fair Exhibition Sectors” (Jul 2026).^2,3

What do the profiles say about traders?

The strongest signal in the data is how many phases a company books. Of the 206 exhibitors that state a type and appear in all three phases, 168 (82%) call themselves foreign trade companies.¹ A factory that makes ceramic mugs has little reason to also stand in the appliance hall and the textile hall. A company selling whatever its suppliers make does.

The registered address is the second signal. Among exhibitors registered in Shanghai, 68% say they are traders. In Guangdong the figure is 31%.¹ Younger companies lean the same way: 46% of those founded in 2020 or later are self-described traders, against 33% of those founded before 2010.

• Phases booked
• All three phases82%n=206
• Registered in
• Shanghai68%n=307
• Fujian41%n=595
• Zhejiang38%n=1,786
• Guangdong31%n=1,695
• Founded
• 2020 or later46%n=664
• Before 201033%n=3,421

Dashed line: All exhibitors 38%

Share of home and kitchen exhibitors that chose “Foreign Trade Company”, of those stating a type; n is the number of exhibitors in each group. Source: Standard Trade analysis of Canton Fair exhibitor profiles, Oct 10, 2026; self-reported.

The labels are loose in both directions. 569 of the 3,108 self-described traders (18%) still list a factory floor area. And 4,648 of all 9,843 profiles (47%) show no sample products at all, so a sparse page tells you little on its own.¹

How do I tell a factory from a trader at the booth?

Ask production questions and see who answers. Someone from the plant can name the machines, the monthly capacity and the lead time without phoning anyone. A trader tends to quote fast across categories that have nothing to do with each other.

The 18-character Unified Social Credit Code on the business license lets you look the company up on China’s National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System (gsxt.gov.cn). The license scope there is harder to dress up than a booth.

A trader can be the right partner for small orders across many SKUs. The risk is paying factory prices for a middleman you didn’t know about, with no line of sight to whoever controls quality.

The 18-character credit code and the business scope line. Illustrative values.

What should I check before paying a deposit?

Start with the bank details. The pro forma invoice, the contract and the beneficiary account should all carry the legal name on the business license, and the account should belong to the company. A mismatch here is the cheapest fraud to catch and the most expensive to miss.

Then ask for samples pulled from a production run and test reports issued in the factory’s own name. Since Jul 8, 2026, CPSC has required importers of regulated consumer products to eFile certificate data before entry, so a borrowed report becomes your problem at the port.⁴ Check the factory and its main input suppliers against the UFLPA Entity List, which reached 187 entities after the Aug 3 additions.⁵ Finally, book a third-party pre-shipment inspection and tie the balance payment to it.

Can someone check booths for me if I’m not going?

Yes. Standard Trade combines this exhibitor data with US customs records and factory checks to tell you which booths on your list are manufacturers and which already ship to US brands. If you aren’t going, we can build a shortlist of factories that make your product, in China or elsewhere in Asia.

Tell us what you need checked: info@standardtrade.ai.

Common questions

1. What are the Canton Fair dates for autumn 2026?

   The 140th Canton Fair runs in Guangzhou in three phases: Oct 15 to 19, Oct 23 to 27, and Oct 31 to Nov 4, 2026.² Most home and kitchen goods, including furniture, exhibit in Phase 2. Home textiles and carpets are in Phase 3.³

2. Is “Industry and Trade Company” a factory?

   Often it’s a factory that also sells other factories’ products. Ask which items they make themselves and which they source, then check that the license scope covers production of your item.

3. Can I trust the Canton Fair’s supplier labels?

   Treat them as the company’s claim. Exhibitors write their own profiles.¹ Confirm with the business license, a live video walk and US customs records before you pay.

4. Do I need to attend to find suppliers at the Canton Fair?

   No. Exhibitor profiles are browsable online through Canton Fair 365.¹ You’ll still want production samples and a video walk before any deposit, whether you met in person or not.