Both the number of buyers and the turnover of this year's Canton Fair have both declined, with a decrease of about 10%. This is the first time since the outbreak of the SARS epidemic in 2003 and the outbreak of the financial crisis in 2008 that the Canton Fair has seen a significant decline in the number of purchasers and export transactions.
This year's Canton Fair is held under the severe situation that the deep-seated impact of the international financial crisis continues to manifest, the European sovereign debt crisis continues to ferment, the world economic recovery has significantly slowed down, the international market demand declines, and trade protectionism is intensified.

Year of establishment: Spring 1957
Exhibition period: twice a year
Time: 112th Canton Fair (Phase 1: October 15-19, 2012) (Phase 2: October 23-27, 2012) (Phase 3: October 31-11, 2012 4th)
Duration: Five days each
Exhibition location: China Import and Export Fair Complex (No. 380 Yuejiang Middle Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou)
Total exhibition area: 1.16 million square meters
Total number of booths: 59509
Turnover: US$32.68 billion
Attending overseas buyers: 188145
Number of exhibitors: 24840