Chinese national trade fairs in Moscow

From November 12 to 14, 2024, the Timiryazev Centre will host international industry exhibitions featuring Chinese companies. In the current economic climate, the relationship between Russia and China has already proven its resilience, and further strengthening of these ties serves the long-term interests of both countries. Bilateral trade turnover is reaching new records every year, with plans to increase it to $300 billion by 2030.

The Chinese national projects—China Machinery Fair and China Commodity Fair—are also intended to contribute to the development of trade and economic relations between Russia and China. On the Chinese side, the organizers include the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products, the Shandong Provincial Department of Commerce, the municipal people's governments of Taizhou and Wenzhou, as well as the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (Jiangsu Sub-council) and the Committee for International Exhibitions and Congresses of Zhejiang Province.

Last year, for the first time after several years of pandemic restrictions, the exhibitions were held in-person, demonstrating excellent results and strong visitor interest. Over the course of three days, nearly 14,000 people attended the events—9,413 at the International / China Commodity Fair and 4,578 at the China Machinery Fair.

Chinese brands are becoming increasingly sought-after in the Russian market, as evidenced by the growing trade volume in electronics and other consumer goods. By the end of last year, Chinese products had become the most popular among Russian consumers—with the share of household appliances and electronics purchases rising to 43%. Of particular interest is smart technology, which is showcased annually by International / China Commodity Fair exhibitors: robot vacuum cleaners, window-cleaning robots, smart speakers, and much more. Last year, visitors to the booth of Chinese company Dreame even saw a robot dog.

Marketplace statistics show that, since the beginning of 2023, Russians have been buying more home and comfort products. According to Ozon, 80% of sales in this category come from kitchenware, home textiles, and decorative items. With the exit of Western brands, there continues to be strong demand from Russian shoppers for quality clothing and children’s goods.

In response to market demand, more than 200 manufacturers and suppliers from China and Russia will present products in the following categories at the International / China Commodity Fair:

• Home and kitchen products
• Household appliances and electronics
• Garden and outdoor products
• Gifts, souvenirs, stationery
• Children’s goods
• Beauty and health products
• Clothing and accessories

Right at the exhibition venue, representatives of the Russian trade business—from major retail chains to marketplace sellers—will be able to find reliable suppliers in these product categories, assess product quality in person, and negotiate favorable purchasing terms.

Alongside the consumer goods exhibition, the China Machinery Fair—the industrial equipment exhibition from China—will take place, where participants will showcase:

• Packaging equipment and materials
• Pumps, valves, and pipeline fittings
• Machine tools and components
• Construction machinery
• Electrical equipment
• Construction equipment and tools
• Agricultural machinery

When it comes to road construction and special machinery, 70% of the fleet renewed in 2023 consisted of equipment from China. With active road infrastructure development underway in Russia and the need to update nearly half of the machinery fleet, strong demand is expected to continue in the coming years. The China Machinery Fair will offer plenty of options for these and other industries, as the exhibition features more than 200 suppliers and manufacturers of industrial goods and equipment.

It’s no secret that working with foreign partners can be challenging and has its own nuances. At the exhibitions, a Unified Consultation Center is available for visitors, where specialists help participants and guests resolve a variety of issues related to cooperation with international partners and marketplaces, including supplier search and verification, logistics, financing, customs clearance, sales, and marketing.

For example, last year, expert assistance in this section was provided by Russia’s largest marketplace, Wildberries. It’s usually quite difficult to meet with platform experts in person, but exhibition visitors had a unique opportunity to interact with them directly. «This is our first time participating in the exhibitions— we wanted to see what kind of feedback we’d get. We answered questions from new sellers and received valuable input from experienced ones. There was a large flow of sellers, especially in the home goods category,» shared Wildberries employees.

The business program, featuring experts, representatives of industry associations, businesses, and government bodies, is an integral part of the exhibitions. Above all, it provides a platform to discuss current industry issues related to Russian-Chinese cooperation and effective trade and industrial collaboration.

Another key part of the program is the conference dedicated to working with China, promoting product businesses, increasing sales, and expanding onto marketplaces. Through master classes, presentations, and open discussions, experts in e-commerce and retail, current sellers, and marketers will share practical advice on effective advertising budget planning, secrets of communication with Chinese partners, and will even develop real-time brand launch plans for marketplaces.