Global Sources' China Sourcing Fair: Home Products, China Sourcing Fair: Baby & Children's Products and India Sourcing Fair: Home Products were held at AsiaWorld-Expo from April 20-23.

From our observation at the shows, there emerged some new noteworthy trends in China's import and export industry amid the global financial crisis.

Half of surveyed importers still count on China market

Nasdaq-listed Global Sources is a leading business-to-business media company and a primary facilitator of trade with Greater China. It delivers information through 14 online marketplaces, 13 monthly magazines, over 100 sourcing research reports and 11 specialized trade shows which run 32 times a year across 11 cities. The company provides sourcing information to volume buyers and integrated marketing services to suppliers.

General Manager of Global Sources Exhibitions, Tommy Wong, said: "The first half of this year will be the defining moment for mainland China's exporters. There will be a reshuffling process and buyers from the European and U.S. markets will be attending sourcing fairs, where they will be meeting with suppliers face-to-face to understand their stability and source more value-for-the-money products."

Global Sources' 2009 Importer Survey showed that close to 50% of surveyed buyers expect to maintain or increase their total import value in 2009. Concerns over supplier stability and changing product requirements are driving up the frequency of buyer communication with suppliers, and a small group of major buyers remain in control of the vast majority of imports in developed markets such as the U.S.

Juan Carrille, Business Development Manager of a Brazilian telecommunication company, Intelbras, said that more than half of their products are sourced from China. China's advantage lies in its complete supply chain and well-trained professionals, but he suggested China suppliers should strengthen the quality control.

Buyers for domestic trade participated in the fair

Wong highlighted a couple of new trends observed from the shows. First, demand for baby and children's products had risen despite the gloomy economy. The China Sourcing Fair: Baby & Children's Products featured nearly 200 booths, increasing by 50 percent compared to the first show in spring 2008.

Global Sources' Executive Director, Sarah Benecke, said: "China Sourcing Fair: Baby & Children's Products is now the only specialized sourcing fair for baby and children's products in Hong Kong. In 2006, the global market of baby garment alone was worth US$25 billion."

Wong added: "Most buyers attending our past fairs were from the European & U.S. markets, but the current shows attracted 10-15 percent buyers from mainland China. This is a good change."

Wong attributed this to the effect of the 4-trillion-Yuan stimulus package announced by Chinese government last year. Besides, it showed that mainland buyers are now sourcing more export products for the domestic market. Attending trade show is a good way to expand their sourcing channels.

According to a recent survey conducted by Global Sources' Chief Executive China magazine, China suppliers are optimistic about the prospect of sales growth in 2009, with 47% of executives expecting sales growth of 10% or more in 2009. Among surveyed suppliers selling within China, 57% expect double digit sales growth, while 36% of export-focused companies project growth greater than 10%.