Service robots are drawing particular attention from global buyers at the 138th China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair.
The event, which opened on Wednesday in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, has attracted a record high of more than 32,000 exhibitors and runs until Nov 4.
This year's fair features a Service Robots Zone spotlighting cutting-edge innovations, including humanoid robots, exoskeleton robots, spherical patrol robots, photovoltaic cleaning robots, and educational robots. The zone has attracted 46 leading industry players, each showcasing their latest products.
The service robots are designed for use in cleaning, medical care, coffee-making, emergency response, and rehabilitation training, among other areas.
The fair also features, for the first time, a smart medical zone, which has attracted 47 companies showcasing products such as surgical robots, intelligent monitoring systems, and wearable devices.
Global buyers have shown strong interest in a massage robot that integrates artificial intelligence with traditional Chinese physical therapy techniques, offering fascia conditioning treatments -- massages that help relax and restore the body's connective tissue.
"Very good product. It was very, very comfortable. So I will advise everyone who wants to buy it. It's a good, good product," said Amin Hssini, a buyer from Morocco.
"Very good production. My son is a doctor and physical therapist. About this production, I want to say it's very good. I think I want to buy one for my son," said Said Al Achkar, a buyer from Lebanon.
The robot has been used in traditional Chinese medicine clinics, health preservation centers and rehabilitation training centers.
Exoskeletons designed to help people walk or climb have also generated keen interest among international buyers.
Weighing 2.4 kilograms, one type of exoskeleton helps users perform physical tasks with about 35 percent less effort, with a fully charged battery lasting around four hours.
"There are sensors and motors inside. The sensor can detect the tidy electrical signal from your muscles, so the signals can transfer to the PCB (Printed Circuit Board), and the PCB controls the models, giving you a lift," said Yue Li, head of the overseas department at Hangzhou Taixi Intelligence Technology Company.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, China produced about 1.216 million service robots in May, up 13.8 percent year on year. In the first half of 2025, the country's service robot output rose by 25.5 percent compared with the same period last year, official data showed.
This year's edition of the fair has set new records not only in exhibitor numbers but also in buyer participation. As of Monday, more than 240,000 buyers from 218 countries and regions had pre-registered, up 10 percent from the previous edition.
Service robots take center stage among global buyers at Canton Fair
