China International Import Expo exhibitors talk up opportunities

The Chinese market offers massive opportunities, and the China International Import Expo (CIIE) provides a premier platform for global companies to demonstrate innovation and technological advances that consistently drive business growth, senior executives have said.

The remarks were made at a matchmaking event held Friday which aimed to better connect buyers with exhibitors at the eighth China International Import Expo, which will be held from Nov 5 to 10 in Shanghai.

German cleaning equipment manufacturer Karcher, a longstanding CIIE exhibitor, will be represented at the expo for the eighth time this year. Over the past seven editions, the company has seen increasing brand influence, expanding business opportunities and growing sales revenues. This year, the company will bring six smart cleaning and healthy water products to make their debut at the CIIE.

"We have seen rapid sales growth in China in recent years," said Jerry Zhang, general manager of the institution solutions department at Karcher Greater China.

"The CIIE proved an accelerator for our strategy in the Chinese market and for our new product launch. The sales of one of our exhibits at the seventh CIIE has exceeded 50,000 units in seven months."

One of Karcher's exhibits at this year's expo will be a new series of fresh mineral water machines, the first of their kind in China. With upgraded water purification technologies, the products adopt advanced mineralization filter elements to offer safe and healthy drinking water.

"We are fully confident in the Chinese market and also expanding our investment in China. Last year, we landed our global R&D center and doubled the size of our production base in Jiangsu province. We expect the innovation in China to empower our global growth," said Zhang, adding that the company saw sales in China expand around 42 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2025.

French tire and mobility company Michelin has been involved in the Chinese market for the past 36 years, and will be participating in the expo for the fifth time this year.

Jay Wu, vice-president of Michelin China, said the company sees the CIIE a network of friends, connecting it with partners, clients and consumers. Wu compared the expo to an ecosystem where national innovation as well as collaboration and the competency of the whole industrial chain consistently help them become better rooted in China.

"We used to say 'made in China for the world', but I think we should change it to 'innovation in China for the world', as what we gain from the innovation here is likely to benefit our global business, eventually," said Wu.

HRC Group, a solution provider for composite materials, is another longstanding CIIE exhibitor. This year, they will be seeking to catch visitors' attention with an LEU100 drone, which is designed for low-altitude logistics. The drone will be making its world debut at the expo.

"Carbon fibers are essential for low-altitude aircraft and, as a global leader in carbon fiber components, we are expected to seize significant growth opportunities and contribute to the development of China's low-altitude economy ecosystem," said Chen Wenjin, HRC's marketing director.

Japanese chemical giant Toray Industries, which will be attending the expo for the third time this year, will also be showcasing its innovative materials. Having entered the Chinese market in 1994, it is paying close attention to China's development of new quality productive forces. At this year's expo, the company will highlight sustainable products and technological updates related to hydrogen, mobility and circular economy.

Throughout the CIIE, visitors will be able see the latest offerings from other companies and grasp the latest market trends in real time, making it an effective platform for display and communication on a global scale, said Takahiro Yamamoto, a board director at Toray Industries (China).

"China remains an extremely attractive market for Toray. The automobile industry centered on new energy vehicles is developing rapidly, and green energy industries such as hydrogen energy are also growing. We are striving to expand business scale in such sectors," Yamamoto added.

A number of new exhibitors will also be joining this year's CIIE, among them the Sherwin-Williams Company from the United States, a global leader in the paint and coating industry. Having opened its first office in China in 1930, the company has located its Asian headquarters in Shanghai and its Asian R&D center in Shunde, Guangdong province.

"We are confident in the Chinese market," said Maggie Gu, the company's head of government relations and corporate communications.

"Over the past editions, we have learned about the expo as a premier platform from our partners and clients. We are dedicated to innovation in green and sustainable development, and expect to contribute to the nation's dual carbon goals."