(At the Canton Fair, luggage enterprises negotiate cooperation with overseas buyers; green and low-carbon products are highly favored)
Green and Low-Carbon Become New Track; Proportion of Eco-Material Luggage Rises Sharply
At this Canton Fair, "green and low-carbon" was undoubtedly the keyword. Over 1.04 million green and low-carbon products were displayed on-site, an increase of 130% compared to the previous edition. In the luggage exhibition area, the application of eco-friendly materials has become one of the core competitive strengths among enterprises.
Multiple luggage exhibitors brought backpack products made from RPET (recycled polyester) materials, and the proportion of renewable eco-material luggage at some enterprises has reached 80%. In addition to RPET fabrics made from recycled water bottles, plant-based materials such as pineapple leaves, grape skins, apple peels, and even cactus are also being applied in artificial leather production, providing more possibilities for the green transformation of the luggage industry.
Luggage made from coffee grounds as raw material became the "viral product" of this Canton Fair, attracting numerous merchants to stop and learn more. One enterprise with annual sales of over 1 million backpacks has reached RMB 4 million in intent orders at the Canton Fair, with eco-material products accounting for over 60%.
Industrial Cluster Advantages Highlighted; Shiling Luggage R&D Speed Leads
As the "China Leather Goods Capital," Shiling Town in Guangzhou fully demonstrated its complete industrial chain advantages at this Canton Fair. Luggage enterprises in Shiling Town launch approximately 100 new product styles each quarter on average — a development speed made possible by the highly concentrated raw and auxiliary materials market: around 8,800 luggage processing factories are gathered within a 5-kilometer radius, making it very convenient for designers to source materials.
Data shows that Shiling Town, Guangzhou produces an average of about 700 million pieces of luggage and leather goods annually, which are exported to more than 140 countries and regions. In the first quarter of this year, Guangzhous leather goods and luggage exports reached RMB 3.263 billion, a year-on-year increase of 4.14%.
Brand Transformation Accelerates; From "Made in China" to "Chinese Brands"
At this Canton Fair, over 17,000 enterprises owned independent brands. Many luggage enterprises are gradually shifting from "making wedding dresses for others" (OEM for others) to vigorously promoting their own brands. For example, the AOKING trademark of Guangzhou Aowangda Leather Co., Ltd. has been registered in 107 countries worldwide, with products sold in 76 countries; and the "Henney Bear" brand of Guangzhou Guxiuou Leather Co., Ltd. is deeply loved by local consumers in the South American market.
Industry insiders say that the Canton Fair, as the "barometer" and "weather vane" of Chinas foreign trade, reflects that the luggage industry is undergoing a transformation from scale expansion to quality improvement. Green and low-carbon, brand going global, and digital empowerment will become the three main lines of future industry development — whoever takes the lead in these areas will gain the initiative in the new round of competition.
Information Sources:
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Peoples Daily Online: "Offline Export Transactions Reach US$24.7 Billion! 135th Canton Fair Successfully Held" (2024-05-05)
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CCTV News: "Coffee Grounds and Pineapple Leaves Made into Luggage Sold to the World — Multiple New Tracks Debut at Canton Fair" (2024-11-03)
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Southern Daily: "Consolidating Brand Foundations — Guangdong Enterprises Tap into Belt and Road Opportunities" (2025-05-05)
