Canton Fair Robots Draw Crowds as Buyers Seek Deployment, Overseas Warehouses

The 140th Canton Fair’s first phase opened under the theme “Advanced Manufacturing,” with service robots emerging as one of the busiest draws. By 10 a.m., the queue outside the service robot zone stretched several meters and crowd-control signs were posted. Buyers from around the world mingled with livestreamers using gimbals to broadcast the scene.

The phase highlights global procurement hot spots including new energy, smart manufacturing and embodied intelligence, and includes dedicated zones for service robots and drones. Organizers and exhibitors are positioning the fair, now in its 70th year, as a platform for commercial adoption rather than spectacle.

Among buyers, interest has shifted beyond robot performances. Purchasers are asking about real-world deployment, after-sales support and overseas warehouse arrangements, signaling that service robotics is moving toward practical operations and cross-border supply chains. For exhibitors, the challenge is to demonstrate reliability, cost efficiency and integration with local distribution networks. The strong turnout underscores how embodied AI is shifting from demonstration to procurement conversations.