Shenzhen expo highlights cross-border e-commerce boom

More than 1,000 companies from China and overseas gathered at the China (Shenzhen) Cross Border E-Commerce Fair 2026 (CCBEC) that opened at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center in Bao’an District on Sept. 16.

The expo has brought together leading e-commerce platforms and global sourcing resources. By building a full-chain platform for cross-border trade services, the event aims to help Guangdong manufacturers and Bao’an-based companies tap into the global markets and promote the high-quality development of the cross-border e-commerce industry. 

Exhibitors come from China, the U.S., France, Australia, Poland, Nigeria and other countries and regions.

A visitor (R) talks with a booth staffer during the 2026 Shenzhen Cross-border E-commerce Exhibition at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center in Bao’an District. Photos by Liu Xudong

Covering 80,000 square meters, this year’s CCBEC is organized into four themed halls covering electronics and electrical appliances, fashion and lifestyle products, sports and leisure, and home and living. Together, the halls showcase 14 major categories of popular cross-border products.

More than 20 leading global cross-border e-commerce platforms are also taking part, including Alibaba.com, Amazon, TikTok Shop, SHEIN, Shopee and Mercado Libre. Meanwhile, the organizers have worked with overseas partner institutions to invite international business-to-business buyers, helping bridge supply and demand between domestic and overseas markets while creating a more efficient and targeted system for cross-border trading.

The expo has introduced nine specialized exhibition areas, with seven product-focused zones featuring Christmas and holiday goods, popular security products, smart lighting, trendy toys, equestrian products, print-on-demand services, and smart wellness products for older adults. Two additional zones focus on cross-border logistics and tax compliance.

These specialized areas respond to the purchasing needs of the peak season while addressing companies’ growing demand for compliant international operations.

The more specialized layout enables global buyers to identify target products more quickly by bringing products and buyers together, matching supply with demand and providing direct access to services.

More than 100 industry forums and exchange activities will be held during the expo. Experts, e-commerce platform executives, business leaders and representatives of industry associations will discuss such topics as policy interpretation, AI-powered digital operations, overseas market expansion, financial and tax compliance, and direct-to-consumer brand development.

The China (Shenzhen) Cross Border E-commerce Development Forum is among the highlights. It features six specialized sessions covering four major areas: platform operations, market expansion, AI and digital empowerment, and compliance services.

Speakers provide detailed information on the operating rules of major e-commerce platforms, while sharing localization strategies for emerging markets in Africa, Latin America and Europe. Discussions also focus on advanced applications of AI across the entire product-selection, content-marketing and digital-operations process.

The expo is expected to offer practical solutions for companies seeking to attract overseas customers, expand their brands and strengthen their competitiveness in the global market.