Xinhua News Agency, Shanghai, November 9 (Reporters Zhou Rui and Li Shiyue) At this year’s International Import Expo, the exhibition area of American companies exceeded 50,000 square meters, ranking first for eight consecutive sessions, an increase of 1,500 square meters compared with last year. Among them, more companies bring global premieres, more companies benefit from "Chinese inspiration" and go home with "big orders", and more companies regard China as a new window "in China, for the world"... The CIIE has been held for the ninth time, and American exhibitors have also ushered in their own "new stories."
This year’s CIIE is the first trip to the CIIE for Leah, global brand president of Tommy Feige Clothing Co., Ltd. "Global brands, innovative ideas and cooperation opportunities are gathered here." Liya said that the CIIE is not only an important platform to display the unique charm of brands, but also an important window to listen to the voices of consumers and gain inspiration. Last year, Tommy Feige's 2026 New Year series made its global debut at the 8th China International Import Expo. After being launched, it received positive market feedback, driving the brand to achieve growth in the Chinese market in the first quarter of this year. “This year, we are here again with a world premiere.”
Leah said that in September this year, the brand opened Asia's first "American Residence" concept store in Guangzhou. In the future, it plans to open more new stores in China and explore the application of artificial intelligence in daily operations such as e-commerce operations and logistics to improve operational efficiency. "The experience and concepts we have accumulated in China have brought new ideas to the brand's global product development, brand narrative and innovation ecology."
"The confidence and creativity shown by Chinese consumers continue to bring us new inspiration." This is Leah's voice, and it is also the real experience of many American companies.
On the morning of the 6th, as soon as the U.S. Food and Agriculture Museum opened, six cooperation agreements were signed, with a total amount of more than 650 million US dollars. Among them, Sure Buy International Co., Ltd. from Idaho, USA, signed a contract worth US$1.5 million.
When I participated in the CIIE for the first time four years ago, of course my business in China was mainly exporting alfalfa and other large animal feed to China. The annual export amount to China was about 500,000 US dollars. Now, the company's business in China has increased 20 times, reaching nearly 10 million US dollars. Among them, its own brand pet business has reached a scale of 5 million US dollars from "zero".
Of course, the inspiration for buying into China’s pet industry also comes from the China International Import Expo. Xu Ruwei, Asia-Pacific director of SureBuy, said that when he attended the CIIE, all the products brought by SureBuy were health care products designed for large animals. However, many professional exhibitors came to inquire about products and services for small animals. This made SureBuy notice that there are niche needs for many small pets such as birds and rabbits in the Chinese market.
"For example, compared to the American market, parrot species in the Chinese market generally have smaller bodies and smaller mouths, so we have introduced more sophisticated packaging for feeding, and also brought bird-specific probiotics, hair-beautifying formulas, etc.," Xu Ruwei said.
For many American companies that are deeply embedded in China's industrial chain, the CIIE is a window into industrial upgrading.
Audiences lined up in front of the American company Tesla's booth to come "face to face" with the Cybertronian self-driving electric vehicle. Now, Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory, located in the Lingang New Area of the Shanghai Free Trade Zone, can roll off a new car in more than 30 seconds, and the localization rate of parts has reached 98%. Tesla has signed contracts with more than 400 local first-tier suppliers in China, of which more than 60 have entered its global supply chain system.
After participating in the exhibition for nine years, Honeywell Technology's booth at the CIIE, a "Quality Student", has expanded from the initial 50 square meters to 500 square meters. Yu Feng, President of Honeywell Technology Greater China, said that this year, the company has brought more than 200 Chinese ecological partners to the scene, and the number of partners has reached a new high in previous CIIEs.
"For Honeywell Technology, on the one hand, the CIIE provides us with an important window to demonstrate our new strategic positioning and understand China's market needs and industry trends; on the other hand, it also helps us connect more customers and upstream and downstream partners, and promote the accelerated localization and commercialization of innovative technologies," Yu Feng said.
Yu Feng gave an example. The process control (China) operation center and innovation R&D center projects signed at the fourth CIIE have been put into operation in Tianjin, realizing the transformation from project cooperation to actual investment. "A debut or signing at the CIIE can become the starting point for long-term cooperation, and new projects and applications will continue to be generated as demand and technology develop. This is the "spillover effect" of the CIIE."
Zheng Yi, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, said that this year’s U.S. Food and Agriculture Pavilion covers an area of 400 square meters and brings together more than 40 agricultural trade associations and companies. “Both have set new records. U.S. companies have seen real opportunities in the Chinese market.”
"The CIIE will undoubtedly expand Sino-US economic and trade cooperation and further consolidate the relationship between the two countries. Therefore, it is also an important way to build a constructive strategic and stable relationship between China and the United States based on respect, fairness and reciprocity." Zheng Yi said.
