China International Import Expo

What China International Import Expo does

China International Import Expo (CIIE) is a non-profit, government-organized trade exhibition platform established in 2018 and headquartered at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. It is the world's first national-level import-themed expo, operated by the China International Import Expo Bureau under the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China. The platform annually convenes international exhibitors and Chinese buyers to facilitate trade, with the 8th edition (CIIE 2025) recording $83.49 billion in purchase deals, 922,000 visits, and 4,108 exhibitors from 138 countries.

The product suite is anchored by the Enterprise Business Exhibition (企业商业展) spanning eight specialized product categories (medical equipment, trade in services, technology equipment, consumer goods, agricultural products, automotive, and innovation incubation), complemented by the Country Comprehensive Exhibition (国家综合展), the Hongqiao International Economic Forum, and supporting cultural exchange programming. Supplementary service modules include an Online Exhibition Hall (网上展厅) for year-round digital display, a Supply-Demand Matching Hall (供采大厅) for buyer-supplier trade matching, intellectual property protection and dispute resolution services, multilingual translation services, and business travel support for participants. The core technology stack is a hybrid physical event plus digital platform architecture, with no disclosed APIs, SDKs, or AI/ML components.

The organization is funded through state appropriation rather than commercial revenue, with 51–100 employees supporting operations. CIIE's revenue model is loosely categorized as marketplace-style facilitation: the $83.49 billion figure associated with each edition represents purchase deals executed between exhibitors and Chinese buyers, not fees retained by the organizing bureau. Exhibitor and buyer registration fees are not publicly disclosed. Customer segments include international exhibitors (across 138+ countries), Chinese enterprise and government buyers, national pavilions representing foreign governments, and African and least-developed-country participants benefiting from China's 100% zero-tariff policies (extended to all 53 African countries with diplomatic relations as of June 2026). Strategic alignment with the 15th Five-Year Plan and Belt and Road Initiative anchors the platform within China's broader trade liberalization and import promotion agenda.

Name

China International Import Expo

Legal name

中国国际进口博览会 (China International Import Expo)

Website

https://ciie.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

China International Import Expo (CIIE) is a state-organized annual trade exhibition, founded in 2018 and operated by China's Ministry of Commerce, that connects more than 4,000 international exhibitors across 138 countries with Chinese buyers at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Exhibition Services

akta.pro primary industry

General Consumer Expos & Trade Shows (MPAGAFAA)

Keywords

• Trade exhibition platform
• International import expo
• Trade matching services
• Exhibition event management
• B2B trade fair

Headquarters

HQ city

Shanghai

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Exhibition and Trade Services: The China International Import Expo serves as a platform facilitating international trade by connecting global exhibitors with Chinese buyers. The expo generates value through attracting international companies to participate, facilitating purchase deals worth billions of dollars, and supporting China's import promotion policies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

China International Import Expo (CIIE) is the world's first national-level import-themed trade exhibition, organized annually in Shanghai by the China International Import Expo Bureau under the Ministry of Commerce. It connects over 4,100 international exhibitors from 138+ countries with Chinese buyers through a physical exhibition at the National Exhibition and Convention Center, complemented by year-round digital services including an online exhibition hall, supply-demand matching platform, and one-stop transaction services. The platform facilitates purchase deals (e.g., $83.49 billion at the 2025 edition), trade policy support, and bilateral business cooperation.

Product overview

China International Import Expo (CIIE) is a comprehensive international trade exhibition platform held annually at the National Exhibition Center in Shanghai. The core offering consists of the Enterprise Business Exhibition with eight specialized product categories (medical equipment, trade in services, technology equipment, consumer goods, agricultural products, automotive, and innovation incubation), complemented by the Country Comprehensive Exhibition, Hongqiao International Economic Forum, and Supporting Activities and Cultural Exchanges. Additional services include trade matching (供采大厅), intellectual property protection, translation services, business travel services, and an online exhibition hall for year-round virtual participation. The platform connects over 4,100 international companies with China's vast market.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Enterprise Business Exhibition (企业商业展) Core trade exhibition area where international companies showcase products and services across specialized categories to Chinese buyers. Covers sectors including medical equipment, technology, consumer goods, agriculture, automotive, and services trade.
• Country Comprehensive Exhibition (国家综合展) National exhibition pavilions where participating countries showcase their unique products, cultural heritage, and investment opportunities. Designed for country branding and bilateral cooperation promotion.
• Hongqiao International Economic Forum (虹桥国际经济论坛) High-level international forum convening government officials, business leaders, and experts to discuss global economic issues and trade cooperation. Held alongside the main exhibition.
• Online Exhibition Hall (网上展厅) Digital platform enabling year-round online product display and trade matching services for exhibitors, extending CIIE engagement beyond the annual physical event.
• Supporting Activities and Cultural Exchanges (配套活动和人文交流)

Quantifiable outcome

• $83.49 billion in purchase deals at CIIE 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Russia Export Center (俄罗斯出口中心)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRussia Export Center serves as Russia's official organization promoting non-resource exports, partnering with CIIE to showcase Russian products and facilitate trade between Russia and China through the expo platform.
• Serbia Development Agency (塞尔维亚发展署)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSerbia Development Agency participates in CIIE to showcase investment opportunities in Serbia and facilitate bilateral business cooperation between Serbian and Chinese companies.
• China-Canada Commerce Council (加中贸易理事会)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Canada-China Business Council serves as an important platform supporting international exporters in exploring the Chinese market through CIIE participation.
• China-Australia Chamber of Commerce (中国澳大利亚商会)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChina-Australia Chamber of Commerce actively promotes Australian business participation in CIIE, noting the expo as an important annual event for members.
• China-Africa Cooperation Forum (中非合作论坛)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerChina-Africa Cooperation Forum works in conjunction with CIIE to promote African products to Chinese market. CIIE serves as a key platform alongside the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo for African nations to access China's market.
• Belt and Road Initiative Countries (一带一路沿线国家)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple Belt and Road participating countries utilize CIIE as a key platform for showcasing products and facilitating trade with China, strengthening economic ties under the Belt and Road framework.
• 33 African LDCs (including Burundi)coreGTM or Marketing Partner33 African least developed countries receive 100% zero-tariff treatment on all product categories under China's generalized tariff preference policy, first major developing country and world economy to do so. This is a key policy initiative driving African participation at CIIE.
• 53 African Diplomatic CountriesflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerAs of June 2026, China announced implementation of 100% zero-tariff treatment for all 53 African countries with diplomatic relations with China, expanding from the previous 33 LDCs. This represents the first time any major economy has implemented such comprehensive duty-free treatment for all African partners.
• UN Children's Fund (联合国儿基会)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNICEF participates in CIIE to promote cooperation for creating a better future for children worldwide through the expo platform.
• Cabo Verde Tradeinvest (佛得角贸易投资局)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCabo Verde Tradeinvest is the government agency responsible for trade and investment promotion, designated as the official organizer for Cape Verde's participation in CIIE.
• Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie du Togo (多哥工商会)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTogo Chamber of Commerce and Industry is a public institution designated by Togo's Ministry of Commerce to organize national participation in CIIE. Invited 70 companies to participate in the first CIIE.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS): A national-level trade exhibition focused on services trade, organized by China's Ministry of Commerce. Directly comparable as a sister import-themed expo platform addressing China's market-opening priorities in adjacent trade segments.
• China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE): National-level trade expo focused specifically on China-Africa economic and trade cooperation, held biennially in Hunan. Directly comparable as a government-organized trade expo that overlaps with CIIE in facilitating African exporters' access to China's market.
• China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair): China's largest and oldest trade fair (since 1957), operated by China Foreign Trade Centre under MOFCOM, held biannually in Guangzhou. Directly comparable as another Chinese government-organized trade exhibition serving as a gateway for international companies to access the Chinese market.

Broad incumbents

• Messe Frankfurt: One of the world's largest trade fair operators running 150+ events globally. Comparable as a large-scale professional trade exhibition operator, though commercial rather than government-organized and global rather than China-anchored.
• Hannover Messe (Deutsche Messe): World's leading industrial trade fair held annually in Germany, operated by Deutsche Messe AG. Comparable as a major international B2B trade show platform attracting global exhibitors and professional buyers, though focused on industrial rather than consumer imports.
• CES (Consumer Technology Association): The world's largest consumer electronics trade show held annually in Las Vegas. Comparable as a flagship global B2B exhibition operating at enormous scale with international exhibitor participation, though with technology rather than import-export focus.
• Informa Markets: Leading global B2B events and trade show organizer with brands including Mobile World Congress and many sector expos. Comparable as a major international trade exhibition operator with breadth across multiple industry verticals.

Others

• Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation: China-organized multilateral policy forum held periodically to advance BRI cooperation. Comparable as a government-organized platform leveraging the same BRI policy ecosystem as CIIE for international engagement and trade promotion, though primarily a high-level policy venue rather than trade floor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ciie_expo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ciieonline
• Instagraminstagram.com/ciie_official
• Facebookfacebook.com/ciieonline

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about China International Import Expo