Canton Fair 2026: Premium Steel Products Draw Global Buyers

From October 23 to 27, 2026, Qingdao Guanxian New Materials took part in Phase 2 of the 140th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) in Guangzhou. The company showcased its core products — galvanized steel coil/sheet, galvalume coil/sheet, pre-painted steel coil (PPGI/PPGL) and IBR corrugated sheets — in the Building and Decorative Materials area, holding in-depth talks with buyers from Africa, South America, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, and presenting its integrated supply chain covering steel production, processing, packing and export.

1. On-Site Highlights: Premium Products on Display, Buyers from Multiple Countries in Talks

During the fair, the booth displayed a range of metal sheet samples, including galvanized checkered plates, color-coated steel sheets and corrugated sheets, attracting many buyers to stop by for enquiries. The sales team had in-depth exchanges with visitors on material grades, applicable standards, custom processing and sea delivery, and buyers from Africa, South America and the Middle East expressed cooperation intentions on site. The booth backdrop presented the company’s full chain of “production – warehousing – coil packing – sea shipment” and its service commitment of “high quality, on-time delivery and long-term cooperation”, demonstrating the strength of an integrated manufacturer and exporter.

Figure 1 At the Canton Fair: galvanized, pre-painted and corrugated steel sheet samples on display at the booth, with the team in talks with overseas buyers

Figure 2 At the Canton Fair “Building and Decorative Materials” area: booth backdrop showcasing integrated steel production, packing and export capabilities

2. Products and Services: One-Stop Supply from Coils to Roofing Sheets

With years of experience in steel export, the company’s product line covers the major categories of steel for building envelopes and structures. To meet the requirements of overseas projects on materials, environmental protection and certification, the company can organize production to international standards such as AS/NZS 1397, ASTM A653/A792, EN 10346 and GB/T 2518, and provides custom processing for non-standard specifications, special RAL colors and special thicknesses to satisfy project needs in different countries and regions.

Table 1 Core Product Portfolio

Note: Standards listed are current commonly applied standards; final specifications are subject to the technical agreement of each order.

3. Industry Watch: Record Buyer Traffic at the Canton Fair, Global Demand Recovering

Serving as a barometer of China’s foreign trade, this session marks the 70th anniversary of the Canton Fair. According to the organizers, the 140th Canton Fair is held in three phases from October 15 to November 4, with about 32,000 exhibitors and an expected 340,000 overseas buyers. Phase 1, themed “Advanced Manufacturing”, attracted 189,000 overseas buyers from 214 countries and regions, up 13.3% year on year and setting a record high. Phase 2, themed “Quality Home Life” (October 23–27), features building materials, furniture and household goods. The company’s exhibition area saw strong visitor flow, reflecting rising global interest in Chinese building steel.

Table 2 Key Facts of the 140th Canton Fair

Figure 3 Overseas buyers at Canton Fair Phase 1 (10,000)

Source: Xinhua (China Foreign Trade Centre); the figure for the previous session is an estimate derived from the published year-on-year growth rate.

4. Data Analysis: Steel Exports “Recovering in Volume, Diverging by Product”

According to statistics from the General Administration of Customs (GACC), China exported 10.492 million tonnes of steel in September, up 0.3% year on year and 3.3% month on month; cumulative exports in January–September reached 85.641 million tonnes, down 2.6% year on year. The average export price was USD 735.7 per tonne, up 1.9% month on month. On imports, China imported 0.492 million tonnes in September, down 10.2% year on year, and 4.066 million tonnes in January–September, down 10.5% year on year.

Table 3 Key Steel Export Data 2026 (GACC)

Source: GACC (as cited by Lange Steel and 100ppi) and CSC Financial steel industry reports.

By product, flat products saw notable pressure, with cumulative January–September exports of 50.46 million tonnes, down 7.4% year on year; bars and rods reached 15.76 million tonnes, up 13.1%; angles and sections 5.97 million tonnes, up 3.6%; and wire rod 2.08 million tonnes, down 6.4%. By region, emerging markets in Africa, South Asia and the Middle East absorbed part of the shifted demand: according to industry statistics, exports to Africa grew by nearly 20% and exports to India by about a quarter in the first eight months. Meanwhile, trade barriers such as the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and Indonesia’s anti-dumping investigation into galvanized steel sheets are raising the bar for compliance and certification in flat product exports.

Figure 4 China steel exports by product, Jan–Sep 2026 (% YoY)

Source: GACC (as cited by 100ppi); categories based on customs codes.

Figure 5 China steel export mix by product, Jan–Sep 2026

Source: GACC; flat products, bars and rods, angles and sections and wire rod together account for 86.7%, with the remainder covering pipes and other products.

As the mainstay of building steel exports, flat products accounted for about 58.9% of total steel exports in January–September. Despite dual pressures from volatile overseas demand and trade barriers, this also creates structural opportunities for differentiated suppliers with standard certification, customization capability and a stable supply chain — overseas projects increasingly prefer one-stop suppliers that meet local standards, provide non-standard customization and guarantee on-time delivery.

5. Market Opportunities and Company Strategy

Combining on-site feedback from the Canton Fair with industry data, the company will continue to deepen its presence in emerging markets such as Africa, South America and the Middle East, and consolidate its export strengths in core categories including galvanized, galvalume, pre-painted steel and corrugated sheets. First, standards first: we match AS, ASTM, EN and GB standards as required by destination countries and provide test reports with shipments. Second, stronger customization: we accept orders for non-standard specifications, special RAL colors and special thicknesses. Third, a more complete supply chain: with integrated production and processing and multi-port shipment capability, we deliver stable and efficient supply to overseas engineering customers.

6. Closing

We welcome global buyers to visit our booth at the Canton Fair and to contact us via E-mail: [[email protected] ] or Tel/WhatsApp: [ +86 155 5269 1119]. The company will continue to help global building and engineering projects reduce cost and improve efficiency with quality steel products and professional service.

(Data sources: Canton Fair figures from gov.cn, Xinhua News Agency and the official website of the People’s Government of Guangdong Province (China Foreign Trade Centre); steel export data from the General Administration of Customs (as cited by Lange Steel, 100ppi) and CSC Financial steel industry reports; company product information provided by the company. Data as of October 2026. The comparative Phase 1 buyer figure for the previous session is an estimate derived from the published year-on-year growth rate. This article is for corporate news and market information reference only.)