The China International Import Expo is scheduled for 5–10 November 2026 in Shanghai. The state-backed import fair has previously drawn attendance on the order of 400,000 visitors, making it a major date for global brands and trade-show planners.
Western consumer, food, automotive and healthcare companies use CIIE to present products intended for China distribution. Country pavilions sit alongside brand displays, creating a format that combines national showcases with commercial exhibitions.
Policy and commerce in one exhibition week
CIIE overlaps Web Summit in Lisbon and takes place days after ADIPEC in Abu Dhabi. Some companies are expected to split teams rather than send one travelling group across the November calendar. The overlap adds pressure to budgets, air travel and staffing plans.
For organizers elsewhere, Shanghai illustrates how major exhibitions can be shaped by public policy as well as by associations and private event companies. The event functions as a business platform for brands, buyers and country representatives, with trade and consumer goods at its centre.
XPO Times readers can follow CIIE through the event calendar and compare it with other international trade shows, expos and conferences.
