By China Market Brief editors
Entrance to Hall 5.2, National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), first CIIE Country Exhibition, November 2018. Photo: Zhou Guanhuai, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; resized.
When is CIIE 2026? The 9th China International Import Expo (中国国际进口博览会, CIIE) runs November 5–10, 2026 in Shanghai, according to Xinhua. At a State Council Information Office briefing on October 16, the Ministry of Commerce said 4,142 overseas companies will exhibit. Officials also outlined the consumer-goods exhibition area and new customs measures for imported consumer goods.
How big is CIIE 2026?
Vice Minister of Commerce Yan Dong (鄢东) said 162 countries, regions and international organizations will take part, with 4,142 overseas exhibitors. Total exhibition space exceeds 440,000 m² for the first time.
The Enterprise Exhibition alone covers more than 370,000 m², also a first. US companies booked over 50,000 m², up 1,500 m² from last year, ranking first by area for the eighth year in a row. The Country Exhibition has 69 countries and international organizations, with Canada and Sri Lanka as guests of honor.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Participating countries, regions and international organizations | 162 |
| Overseas exhibitors | 4,142 |
| Total exhibition area | 440,000 m²+ |
| Enterprise Exhibition area | 370,000 m²+ |
| Fortune Global 500 and industry-leading companies | 300+ |
| First-time exhibitors | 2,000+ |
| Exhibitors that attended all nine editions | nearly 200 |
| Debut exhibits (world, Asia or China premieres) | 480+ |
Figures announced at the State Council Information Office briefing, October 16, 2026. Source: Xinhua.
What will be shown at CIIE 2026?
The Enterprise Exhibition keeps its “6+1” layout: six zones — technical equipment; consumer goods; food and agricultural products; automobiles and smart mobility; medical equipment and healthcare; trade in services — plus an innovation incubation zone.
More than 480 world, Asian or Chinese debut exhibits have been registered so far, the most of any edition. Trade-matching events, including product selection sessions for major buyers, will also run during the expo.
How fast can imported consumer goods clear customs in Shanghai?
Shanghai Vice Mayor Lu Shan (卢山) said the city introduced inspection facilitation for imported consumer goods making their China debut (首发). Clearance time has been cut from at least 7 days to as little as same-day.
Shanghai also runs a year-round display-and-sales channel linking the six expo days to the rest of the year. Hongqiao Import Commodity Exhibition and Trading Center (虹桥品汇) carries about 85,000 expo-matched products from more than 6,000 brands across 120-plus countries.
What happens at the Hongqiao Forum?
The Hongqiao International Economic Forum (虹桥论坛), held alongside the expo, will release the first Report on the Development of Capacity for Exporting to China (出口中国能力发展报告) and continue the World Openness Report (世界开放报告).
In Shanghai, more than 5,000 businesses — retail and dining, museums and cultural venues, and major shopping districts — will offer perks linked to expo tickets.
Source: Xinhua (新华社), “开放底色鲜明 创新动能强劲——第九届中国国际进口博览会亮点前瞻,” October 16, 2026. https://www.news.cn/world/20261016/dad71a54e7e74a84a1b318e29abf1ed0/c.html
Source published: 2026-10-16 · Korean edition published: 2026-10-23 · English edition: 2026-11-02
Figures checked against the Xinhua source on 2026-11-02.
