BEIJING: With the Hainan Free Trade Port now in operation, the China International Consumer Products Expo is cementing its role as a strategic entry point for international brands targeting China’s expansive consumer base.
It has turned to an increasing number of exhibitors as long-term investors, officials and executives said on Monday.
Speaking at a news conference in Beijing, Vice-Minister of Commerce Sheng Qiuping said that the sixth edition of the expo, which opens in Haikou, the capital of Hainan province, on April 13 and runs through April 18, will be the first major event held in Hainan since the FTP fully implemented its island-wide independent customs operations in December.
“We will leverage the FTP’s policy advantages to make the expo a premier testing ground for cultivating new consumption growth drivers and promoting consumption upgrades,” he said.
According to local authorities, customs operations have seen a surge in zero-tariff goods in recent times, expanding coverage to 74% and allowing items with 30% added value in Hainan to enter the mainland tariff-free.
Sheng said that the expo would bring together more than 3,400 brands from over 60 countries and regions, with international exhibits accounting for 65% of the total.
More than 200 new products are expected to make their debut, double the number launched at last year’s event.
Saravoot Yoovidhya, chief executive officer of Thailand’s TCP Group, a leading manufacturer of energy drinks and a regular participant at the expo, said: “Although global demand is slowing, the certainty of China’s market is the most important ballast in our global strategy.”
Data from the Commerce Ministry showed that China’s retail sales in consumer goods, a key indicator of consumption, rose 2.8% in the first two months of 2026, accelerating by 1.9 percentage points from December.
Saravoot added that at the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) period, China’s continued expansion of institutional openness and construction of a unified national market have injected confidence into foreign investors looking to deepen their presence and contribute to consumption upgrades. — China Daily/ANN
