Some exporters at the Canton Fair in Guangzhou report a modest return of orders to China from Southeast Asia, as energy-market volatility linked to the
prompts some Western buyers to prioritise supply chain stability. The shift is visible in buyer patterns on the exhibition floor, where the number from Europe and the United States appears to have recovered from last year’s levels, according to Chinese exporters, with more inquiries for home appliances, new energy products and consumer electronics.
The outlook comes as companies weigh risks in Southeast Asia, a region that has gained manufacturing capacity in recent years as firms
away from China. But the region now faces energy supply uncertainty and production risks, prompting some Western buyers to reassess their sourcing strategies and move some orders back to the world’s second-largest economy.
Analysts have broadly echoed the sentiment on the ground at the Canton Fair. A report by Nomura Securities, released early this month, highlighted the resilience of China’s export sector amid global energy supply shocks, supported by
and rapid advances in wind, solar and nuclear power.
