The inaugural CIIE U-Fair, an extension of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), continued drawing enthusiastic crowds on its final day on Sunday, with consumers flocking to the venue in Shanghai to browse and purchase affordable global products, injecting strong momentum into the year-end consumer market.
The three-day U-Fair, dubbed a "mini CIIE," spans over 53,000 square meters and features more than 700 enterprises from over 60 countries and regions, offering a wide array of products, including food, agricultural products, health supplements and automobiles.
Exhibition halls were bustling with energy as crowds of shoppers, wheeling suitcases and carrying full shopping bags, moved briskly between booths.
"We came from Suzhou. I had visited the CIIE before and had a great experience, but my wife missed it last time. So we made a special trip to attend this U-Fair together," said a shopper.
Consumer enthusiasm translated into solid sales across exhibition zones, with the agricultural and food products section being the hottest.
Goodfarmer, a fresh food importer that has participated in eight consecutive CIIEs, offered nearly ten best-selling fruits at 15 percent off regular prices. Among them, the red bananas from Ecuador -- debuted just last month at the 8th CIIE -- sold out shortly after hitting the shelves.
The price advantage offered on high-quality products at the event is a prime reason behind their strong sales.
"The prices are definitely good -- even better than on the website," said a shopper.
"We joined this mini-CIIE to just give it a go, to be honest. The results -- in terms of revenue and on-site customer engagement -- have been very encouraging. Our total sales reached around 500,000 yuan (about 71,013 U.S. dollars)," said Zeng Xiaoqing, deputy brand director of Goodfarmer.
Beyond brisk retail sales, business collaboration progressed in parallel. During the event, Goodfarmer reached bulk purchase agreements with eight other enterprises, laying the groundwork for future market expansion.
The imported goods section was also lively. Among the seven product categories presented by the Canadian delegation -- including grains, oils, meat, and beverages -- an apple ice wine emerged as a breakout star due to its distinctive flavor.
"This apple ice wine alone achieved daily sales of around 20,000 yuan (about 2,840 U.S. dollars)," said Jia Linjuan, a marketing manager for the Chinese market of a trading company based in Suzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province.
Categories including skincare, home goods, and apparel also enjoyed strong consumer interest. Tommy Hilfiger, a U.S. apparel brand, attracted shoppers with heavily discounted "lucky bags."
"The lucky bags were priced at just 20-25 percent of the normal retail prices. Sales have surpassed our expectations," said Shen Demei, manager of Tommy Hilfiger's booth.
The mini-CIIE -- launched as a consumer-facing extension of the CIIE -- has created a vibrant marketplace where global products can directly meet eager Chinese shoppers. By 16:00 on Sunday, the event had registered 65,000 visits, demonstrating its potent role in driving consumer engagement and stimulating spending.
CIIE U-Fair in Shanghai fuels year-end spending
