9th CIIE set to see record number of product debuts

The 9th China International Import Expo (CIIE) will be held in Shanghai from November 5 to 10. A total of 162 countries, regions, and international organizations are expected to participate, with the exhibition area exceeding 440,000 square meters for the first time.

China's Vice Minister of Commerce Yan Dong said this year's CIIE will seek to become more market-oriented, distinctive, and professional, with three key highlights.

Flowers are in full bloom at the south square of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), venue for the 9th China International Import Expo (CIIE), on October 17, 2026. (Photo: Wang Yadong)

A stronger commitment to openness. The Country Exhibition of the 9th CIIE will bring together 69 countries and international organizations, more than last year. Canada and Sri Lanka will serve as the guest countries of honor, while Moldova, Romania, and three other countries, along with the United Nations Development Programme, will participate for the first time.

At the Business Exhibition of the 9th CIIE, US companies will occupy more than 50,000 square meters of exhibition space, maintaining their top spot for the eighth consecutive year. Their exhibition area has grown by 1,500 square meters from last year. The Hongqiao International Economic Forum, held alongside the expo, will release a report on China's export capacity development for the first time.

Stronger momentum for innovation. For the first time, more than 300 Fortune Global 500 companies and industry leaders will participate in the expo. Nearly 200 companies and institutions that have participated in every previous edition will return to this year's expo, while more than 2,000 companies will make their debut.

So far, more than 480 products have been confirmed for their global, Asian, or China debut at the expo, setting a new record.

More opportunities for shared growth. Six international organizations, including the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, will participate in the expo. Government departments and local authorities will work together to organize more than 40 trade delegations and over 600 sub-delegations to the expo to explore business and procurement opportunities.

The Business Exhibition of the 9th CIIE will exceed 370,000 square meters for the first time. A total of 4,142 companies from 148 countries and regions have signed up, the highest number in the expo's history.

Xiao Lu, deputy Party secretary of the China International Import Expo Bureau, said the exhibition areas for medical equipment, healthcare products, consumer goods, and food and agricultural products have all been expanded. The Asia-Africa Products Zone will also be upgraded, with more space for African exhibitors. Free booth space for companies from least-developed countries will increase by 17 percent.

More than 200 products making their global debut or first appearance at the expo will be showcased. They include a cochlear implant capable of detecting sound from all directions, a prototype 6G terminal and a water treatment system that can soften and remineralize water simultaneously.

For the first time, the expo will feature a global consumer brands showcase.

"Around 100 long-established, high-quality brands with strong consumer recognition have been selected, with a focus on the guest countries of honor and those featured in this year's 'Export to China' theme," said Xiao.

Customs officers inspect air-freighted exhibits arriving for the 9th China International Import Expo (CIIE) at Shanghai Pudong International Airport in Shanghai on October 13, 2026. (Photo: Shen Chunchen)

The CIIE Shanghai Events and Conferences will provide exhibitors and business visitors with an efficient platform for communication and exchange. Nearly 100 events are being planned, including the release of research reports on companies expanding overseas and bulk commodity price indexes.

New platforms and services will also be launched, including a cross-border data compliance platform and a digital credit insurance service on the China (Shanghai) International Trade Single Window, while facilitating the signing of a series of cooperation agreements.

In the first eight months of this year, Shanghai's imports hit a record 1.87 trillion yuan (about $280 billion), accounting for 12.8 percent of China's total imports. As host city of the CIIE, Shanghai is exploring new ways to further expand imports.

Lu Shan, vice mayor of Shanghai, said the city is working to speed up quarantine approval for imported goods and facilitate the transition of goods temporarily imported for exhibition into regular imports for domestic market. It is also upgrading the Waigaoqiao, Hongqiao and Huaihai Xintiandi National Import Trade Promotion and Innovation Demonstration Zones.

On the supply-chain front, Shanghai is attracting and developing leading supply-chain companies to strengthen its global sourcing and distribution capabilities.

The city has introduced 18 measures to facilitate customs clearance and set up 123 dedicated customs service desks and channels for the CIIE, enabling exhibits to be inspected and released upon arrival. The number of business negotiation areas has increased to 19, with a total area three times that of the previous edition.

Lu said more exhibitors are shifting from participating in the six-day expo to establishing a long-term presence in China and increasing their investment.

Photo shows the Bund in Shanghai. (Photo: Wang Gang)

In the first eight months, the actual use of foreign capital in Shanghai reached $11.59 billion, up 6.9 percent year on year. The city is now home to 1,120 regional headquarters of multinational companies and 675 foreign-funded R&D centers.

Leveraging the CIIE, Shanghai is advancing institutional innovation, strengthening financial support and improving business services to foster a world-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based and aligned with international standards.

The city has introduced streamlined inspection procedures for imported consumer goods making their debut in China. Customs clearance time has been reduced from a minimum of seven days to as little as same-day release, helping more than 30,000 new products make their Shanghai debut faster.

Since 2018, Shanghai has attracted more than 1,700 high-profile stores making their debut in China, Asia or worldwide.