Traders in Yiwu look to work around Middle East disruption, rely on strong logistics networks

The ripple effects of tensions in the Middle East have now spread to the major eastern Chinese trading hub of Yiwu, a city famously known as "the world's supermarket," as companies and traders try to work around the disruption and rely on strong logistics networks across the region to keep business moving.

The Yiwu International Trade Market has become an important center for foreign trade, housing nearly 80,000 booths offering over two million types of commodities. However, the recent situation brought by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and the disruption it has caused to both shipping transport and air cargo is forcing some traders to take steps to mitigate the impact.

Zhang Shidan, a plastic household goods trader in Yiwu, said her company has been left with no choice but to raise product prices as transportation and insurance costs have surged due to escalating tensions in the Middle East.

"We will adjust prices after the stocks of most products run out. The prices are expected to rise by 10 percent," Zhang said.

The travel turmoil brought by the conflict has also created a headache for customers from the region who are trying to reach Yiwu themselves.

"We flew from Lebanon to Egypt, from Egypt to Dubai, from Dubai to Hangzhou. It's a long time. Because in [the main] Lebanon airport, only one company can fly -- a Middle East company -- so its expensive," said Heysam Yassine, a Lebanese buyer.

While making the trip from the Middle East to Yiwu has become more difficult, logistics companies with well-established supply chain networks across the region are helping to cushion the impact on trade and working to distribute goods as best as they can.

"We have 28 warehouses across 12 countries in the Middle East, so we have a relatively complete layout in the region," said Chen Fangfang, general manager of Safe Way Express Cargo, a logistics and cargo shipping firm.

Last year, the total value of Yiwu's exports reached over 100 billion U.S. dollars, with more than 14 billion U.S. dollars going to Middle Eastern markets.

Traders in Yiwu look to work around Middle East disruption, rely on strong logistics networks

China Media Group's Film Culture Carnival began on Wednesday in Ningbo City, east China's Zhejiang Province.

The carnival, themed "2026 Year of Film Economy Promotion," will highlight cinema culture, the integration of film with tourism and intangible cultural heritage, and the development of immersive, full-chain film consumption experiences. Organizers aims to generate fresh momentum for the film economy and promote cross-sector innovation in the "film plus" industry.

The carnival features five main sections. During the release of model cinema projects and new cinema scenarios, a number of industry models that exemplify the transformation of cinemas into cultural complexes, as well as new consumption scenarios in movie theaters, were prominently highlighted.

Also, the "Reel Views, Real Journeys" campaign was dedicated to creating an international exchange platform for the integrated development of film and cultural tourism.

In addition, the launch of the "Weekend Movie Night" program marked the official launch of CMG's first immersive film culture exploration program. The carnival also includes hands-on experiences in film industry manufacturing and a creative market highlighting intangible cultural heritage inspired by films.

The comprehensive event matrix will last until April 19.

At the same time, the 2026 Yangtze River Delta International Youth Film Week, co-hosted by CMG and the Zhejiang Provincial Government, was officially launched in Ningbo.

CMG Film Culture Carnival opens in east China's Ningbo city