As is well known to veteran buyers at the Guangzhou-based Chinese Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair), the last day of each phase is the best day to get good deals on high-quality samples from exhibitors.

Satisfied buyers with their reduced-price goods (Guangzhou Daily)

Products become "Christmas gifts"

On October 19, the closing day of the first phase of the 104th session, the fair experienced a reduced turnover due to the impact of the global financial crisis. Exhibitors said that most buyers complained about the crisis and prices had to be cut deeply.

Since no wholesale business was ordered during the fair, some toy and electronic goods factories began to promote their goods for retail sale as "Christmas gifts." According to exhibitors, many of the toy factories in Shenzhen and Dongguan have closed down and negatively affected their business. Some gave away samples free of charge as souvenirs.

First phase led by turnover in machinery and electronic products

By October 17, the fair saw a 7.06 billion USD export turnover, with machinery and electronic products reaching 6.098 billion USD, 86.4% of the total. Turnover of electronic appliances and electronic products followed, with air conditioning, refrigerators, microwave ovens, washing machines and electronic fans reaching the top five in export turnover.