From uncertainty to opportunity: Ningbo's export strategy

The booth of Hidrotek at the 137th Canton Fair. [Photo/Ningbo Evening News]

As the 137th Canton Fair goes on now, exporters from Ningbo, Zhejiang province, are showing how innovation and agility can carve out certainty amid global trade uncertainty, according to Ningbo Evening News.

This year's fair was held in Guangzhou and has seen nearly 1,600 Ningbo companies participate across all three phases, occupying more than 4,000 booths. For many of these businesses, the focus is not just on survival — but on transformation.

"We arrived early to prepare our booth, and by the afternoon, buyers from the Middle East and Southeast Asia were already flowing in," said Hu Chenjie, general manager of Ningbo Xindajie Electric Appliance Co Ltd, "It's the perfect opportunity to let our younger salespeople get hands-on experience while exploring how to break into new markets."

That sentiment was echoed by other Ningbo exhibitors who are diversifying their global reach in response to shifting market dynamics.

"Even though fewer American clients are coming, we're expecting more from Europe and Russia," said You Haiyong, general manager of Ningbo Yongxin Aiduo Auto Parts Co Ltd, who was seen using AI tools to aid real-time communication with European clients.

The emphasis on emerging markets has also driven product reinvention. At Ningbo Hidrotek Co Ltd, a national-level "little giant" in the water purification industry, teams redesigned filter systems specifically for Southeast Asia's water quality and consumer preferences.

"We've added UV sterilization and adjusted the cost-performance ratio to suit regional needs," said Chen Dehuan, the company's brand manager.