China's largest trade fair ran in three phases in Guangzhou from October 15 to November 4, 2026. According to the organiser, the China Foreign Trade Centre, the 140th edition attracted 352,000 overseas buyers from 219 countries and regions, 12.2% more than the previous session. More than 32,000 companies exhibited around 4.88 million products, on-site intended export deals reached US$26.75 billion, and 36.5% of exhibitors offered combined "product plus service" packages rather than hardware alone. Buyers from the European Union rose 38.2%.
The first phase, held October 15 to 19 under an advanced manufacturing theme, covered 520,000 square metres with more than 12,000 exhibitors. Drones were given one of 17 dedicated zones for emerging industries in that phase, alongside service robots and display technology. The low-altitude sector had appeared as a standalone zone for the first time at the spring session, when more than 20 drone companies took part.
Agricultural drones were a clear focus. TopXGun showed its FP800, which carries up to 85 kg and comes with an 80-litre spraying tank and a 120-litre spreading tank. An overseas sales engineer told Yicai that the aircraft handles spraying, fertiliser spreading, seed sowing and material lifting, and has found strong demand among farmers in South America.
Consumer and commercial products also drew crowds. First-time exhibitor iFlight, an FPV drone maker based in Huizhou, brought a full range of FPV drones, from entry-level to cinema-grade models, which caught the eye of European and American buyers, according to Southern Finance Omnimedia. Tethered lighting drones, originally built for night-time emergency work, were being pitched for construction sites, harvests, campsites and night tourism. One lighting-drone exhibitor showed a 2,400-watt tethered light that it says can illuminate 25,000 square metres, and reported about US$100,000 in preliminary orders on the opening day from buyers including visitors from Indonesia and South Korea.
At the larger end, a Guangzhou-based eVTOL start-up launched four new products, including an ultralight crewed eVTOL that can take off from land or water, and AutoFlight made its first Canton Fair appearance with models of its CarryAll cargo and firefighting aircraft.
Taken together, the reports point to a change in how Chinese drone makers sell abroad. Companies that once served mainly security and industrial customers are adapting the same technology for everyday commercial uses, and some exhibitors say they are building local after-sales and technical support in key export markets. That matches the organiser's figure that more than a third of exhibitors now offer services alongside hardware.
The Canton Fair remains a useful place to see many Chinese drone suppliers at once, from spraying drones to FPV kits and tethered lighting systems. Booth conversations are only a starting point, however. Buyers still need to check certifications for their market, battery shipping rules, spare-parts supply and local support before placing an order. If you missed the fair or want a shortlist of suppliers matched to your application, our team can help you compare options and follow up with manufacturers.