Asian Trade Fairs: China, Japan, India and Southeast Asia

The same Asian fair can serve two different aims. Decide which one is yours before you look at the list, because the target company type changes completely.

Sourcing (as a buyer)

At fairs in China, India and Vietnam most exhibitors are manufacturers. The list helps you build a supplier shortlist by product group and fit factory visits into the fair week.

Selling (as a supplier)

Your targets are the distributors, importers and system integrators at the fair. Food, healthcare and industrial fairs in Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand have more importing companies and international pavilions.

Regional hub

Trading companies in Singapore and Hong Kong often sell into several countries, so one agreement can open more than one market.

The Canton Fair (China Import and Export Fair) is the classic example: held twice a year in Guangzhou in three phases, it is where buyers from around the world meet Chinese manufacturers.

China (23 upcoming fairs): The NECC exhibition grounds in Shanghai, the Canton Fair Complex in Guangzhou and Shenzhen are the main hubs. Chinese manufacturers dominate most fairs; machinery, automotive parts, electronics and packaging fairs are world-scale.

Hong Kong (9 upcoming fairs): The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and AsiaWorld-Expo are the main venues. Jewellery, cosmetics, stationery and gift fairs draw trading companies that do business across China and Southeast Asia.

Japan (18 upcoming fairs): Tokyo Big Sight, Makuhari Messe and INTEX Osaka are the main venues. Machine tool, energy, food and cosmetics fairs are where Japanese importers and specialist trading houses look for new suppliers.

South Korea (3 upcoming fairs): COEX in Seoul and KINTEX in Goyang are the main venues. Maritime, broadcasting technology and industrial fairs stand out.

India (36 upcoming fairs, 1 with a ready list): Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, India Expo Mart in Greater Noida, the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai and BIEC in Bengaluru are the main venues. Machinery, automotive, electrical, pharmaceutical and food processing fairs are strong.

Singapore (7 upcoming fairs): Singapore Expo and Marina Bay Sands host the fairs. As Southeast Asia's regional hub, Singapore draws distributors that sell into several countries.

Thailand (18 upcoming fairs): IMPACT and BITEC in Bangkok are the main venues. Food, metalworking, cosmetics and packaging fairs serve Southeast Asia's manufacturing base.

Vietnam (8 upcoming fairs): Most fairs are in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Textile, furniture and woodworking, agriculture and water technology fairs reflect a growing manufacturing sector.

Other countries with fairs in the directory: Taiwan (1), Malaysia (5), Indonesia (6).

Fair pages in our directory: Canton Fair, Automechanika Shanghai, FOODEX Japan, JIMTOF, IMTEX, THAIFEX and FHA. Names without a link have no upcoming edition in the directory yet.

Showing 20 fairs. Country calendars are linked above; all fairs with a ready list are on the exhibitor lists page, and every country is in the international trade fair calendar.

• Work with trading houses: a large share of Japanese imports goes through general and specialist trading companies. Finding the right importer is often quicker than approaching end users directly.
• Add a Japanese summary: alongside your English message, a short Japanese summary and product sheet make it easier for your document to circulate during internal approval.
• Lead with quality evidence: test reports, production process and quality control details are early questions; accepting a small trial order builds trust.
• Follow up patiently: decisions need several approvals; rather than repeating the same message, add new information with each follow-up.

India is a large but regional market. In many product groups distributors are strong in particular states, and a single exclusive agreement for the whole country can leave regions uncovered. Buyers are price-sensitive, and payment terms and lead times sit at the centre of negotiations.

Certification by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is mandatory for some product groups, and distributors ask about it early. State your certification status and the regions you want to cover in the first message. China has a similar requirement, CCC certification, for some products. The rules depend on the product group, so check the current position with official sources.

Time difference

China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia are eight hours ahead of the UK in winter and seven in summer; Japan and South Korea nine and eight; Thailand, Vietnam and Jakarta seven and six; India five and a half and four and a half. These countries do not change their clocks.

Trade agreements

The UK has trade agreements with Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Vietnam, is a member of CPTPP, and its agreement with India, signed in 2025, entered into force in July 2026, with some Indian tariff cuts phased in over several years. Preferential tariffs apply only when the goods meet the rules of origin; check the current rate for your product.

Longer lead time

Travel and sample shipments take longer for distant fairs. Reviewing the list a few weeks earlier than for a European fair is a sensible precaution.

• Eight to ten weeks before: open the list in your account and sort companies into manufacturers, distributors and trading companies.
• Five to six weeks before: send a short introduction and meeting request; for Japan and South Korea, add a short summary in the local language.
• Fair week: confirm meetings; if you are sourcing, plan factory visits for the same week.
• After the fair: come back within a week with a quotation and sample offer; see our follow-up guide.

These time frames are rough practical guidance, not measured figures.

For wording, see our meeting request templates; if you cannot travel, read reaching exhibitors without attending. In Expomatik the list is opened in your account, campaigns go to each company's general address and opens are not tracked. Email rules differ by country; for the UK and EU framework, see Is It Legal to Email Trade Fair Exhibitors? The price of a list is shown before you open it; see Pricing. To look inside the lists, create a free account.

Are Chinese trade fairs for buying or for selling?

Most exhibitors at Chinese fairs are Chinese manufacturers, so these fairs are a rich source for buyers looking for suppliers. If you want to sell, choose fairs with strong international participation or an import section, and focus on Chinese distributors and system integrators.

Why do Japanese companies take longer to reply?

Decisions in Japan usually need approval from several people, and new suppliers are asked for detailed information. A slow reply does not necessarily mean a lack of interest. A short Japanese summary, thorough technical documents and patient follow-up work well.

Can one distributor cover the whole of India?

Usually not. India is a large, regional market, and in many product groups distributors are strong in particular states or regions. Before granting exclusivity, ask which states the company actually sells in.

When should I email buyers in Asia from the UK?

Early in the UK morning. China and Singapore are eight hours ahead of the UK in winter and seven in summer, Japan and South Korea nine and eight, India five and a half and four and a half. A message sent at 8am UK time arrives in the Asian afternoon.