Justin
Planning your 2026 sourcing trip to China? The decision between visiting the Canton Fair or Yiwu Market isn’t about which is better overall, but which is right for your specific business needs. Choosing incorrectly can tie up capital in large, inflexible orders or leave you without the custom manufacturing capabilities you need to scale.
This guide breaks down the critical differences to help you decide. We’ll compare minimum order quantities—from the Canton Fair’s typical 500+ unit requirements to Yiwu’s low-MOQ, carton-based orders. We’ll also analyze product focus, timing, and the real costs of attendance, including how Yiwu’s 75,000+ year-round booths offer a different kind of flexibility compared to the Fair’s bi-annual schedule.
MOQ Battle: Canton Fair (High) vs. Yiwu (Low)
The choice between the Canton Fair and Yiwu Market comes down to your business scale and sourcing strategy. The Canton Fair is a high-MOQ environment for large-scale, custom manufacturing, while Yiwu Market offers low-MOQ, stock-based sourcing for smaller, flexible orders.
Canton Fair: The High-MOQ Manufacturing Hub
Primarily features manufacturers offering custom production, OEM, and ODM services.
Focuses on bulk orders for larger importers and established brands.
Typical Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs) are high, often starting at 500+ units, thousands of units, or full container loads.
Ideal for buyers seeking consistent quality, product customization, and scalable manufacturing capacity.
Main products include machinery, electronics, vehicles, chemicals, and high-end consumer goods.
Yiwu Market: The Low-MOQ Wholesale Center
Operates as the world’s largest wholesale market for small commodities, with over 75,000 booths open year-round.
MOQs are very low, often as little as one carton or a few dozen to a few hundred units.
Perfect for small to medium-scale buyers, startups, and online sellers needing flexibility and quick stock-based sourcing.
Focuses on ready-made goods with negotiable prices, allowing for fast order fulfillment.
Main products include toys, accessories, home decor, stationery, textiles, and other small commodities.
Choosing Based on Your Business Scale and Strategy
For Amazon FBA sellers testing new products or managing inventory cautiously, Yiwu’s low MOQs significantly reduce financial risk.
For sellers with proven products ready to scale or who require custom branding, Canton Fair suppliers offer the necessary manufacturing depth and quality control.
Your choice fundamentally depends on order volume: Yiwu for small-batch, stock-based sourcing; Canton Fair for large-scale, custom production.
Product Quality: Innovation (Canton) vs. Commodity (Yiwu)
The Canton Fair is a hub for innovative, high-quality manufacturing and OEM projects, while Yiwu Market focuses on affordable, ready-made commodity goods. Your choice depends on whether you need unique, scalable products or cost-effective, high-volume items.
Canton Fair: Focus on Innovation and High-End Manufacturing
The Canton Fair in Guangzhou showcases high-end, innovative products, particularly in electronics, machinery, and advanced consumer goods.
Exhibitors are often certified manufacturers focused on OEM/ODM customization, ensuring consistent quality suitable for bulk and large-scale orders.
This environment is designed for buyers seeking to source products with a higher degree of technical sophistication, design, and manufacturing reliability.
Yiwu Market: The Hub for Commodity Goods and Wholesale
Yiwu International Trade Market specializes in small commodity goods like toys, jewelry, accessories, and household items, ideal for ready-made wholesale.
The market operates year-round with low MOQs, catering primarily to small businesses, startups, and e-commerce sellers looking for volume pricing on standard items.
While vast in scale, the focus is on affordability and variety, with products generally representing established, commoditized categories rather than cutting-edge innovation.
Choosing Based on Your Product and Business Needs
For Amazon FBA sellers or brands needing unique, high-quality products for differentiation, the Canton Fair’s innovative suppliers are a better strategic fit.
For sellers focused on cost-effective sourcing of common, high-volume items (like basic home goods or promotional products), Yiwu’s commodity market offers significant advantages.
A partner like Chineseyiwu.com mitigates the quality risks associated with commodity sourcing through services like on-site factory verification and AQL Level II inspections.
Timing: Bi-Annual (Canton) vs. Year-Round (Yiwu)
The Canton Fair operates on a fixed, bi-annual schedule, while Yiwu Market is open every day of the year. This fundamental difference in timing shapes sourcing strategies, from rigid trip planning for bulk orders to flexible, on-demand purchasing for small commodities.
Canton Fair – Bi-Annual, Time-Boxed Sessions
The Canton Fair is held twice a year in spring and autumn, with each session lasting about three weeks.
Each session is divided into three distinct phases, each running for roughly five days and focusing on different product categories.
Buyers must plan their entire sourcing trip around these fixed windows. Outside these dates, the fairgrounds are closed and suppliers return to their factories across China.
Yiwu Market – Year-Round, Daily Operations
Yiwu International Trade Market operates 365 days a year, with over 75,000 booths open for business daily.
This permanent, year-round model allows for flexible travel planning and the ability to place follow-up or top-up orders at any time without waiting for a trade fair cycle.
The market’s continuous operation supports just-in-time inventory strategies and makes it ideal for testing new products or making small, repeat purchases.
Trip Sequencing – Guangzhou First, Then Yiwu
A common and effective sourcing strategy is to align a trip with the Canton Fair dates, then travel directly to Yiwu afterward.
This approach lets you use the Canton Fair to discover new products and meet manufacturers, then use Yiwu’s year-round availability to source complementary items, refine your assortment, and place smaller test orders.
This sequence maximizes the value of a single China trip by combining the concentrated innovation of the fair with the flexible, commodity-based sourcing of the permanent market.
Cost of Attendance Comparison
The overall cost of sourcing is shaped by the fundamental nature of each destination. The Canton Fair, as a major biannual event, incurs significant, concentrated travel and logistical expenses. In contrast, Yiwu Market, as a permanent wholesale hub, typically involves lower per diem costs and more flexible, spread-out expenses, especially when leveraging consolidation services.
| Cost Component | Canton Fair (Guangzhou) | Yiwu Market |
|---|---|---|
| Travel & Flights | Peak pricing around fair dates; international flights to Guangzhou (CAN). | Often cheaper domestic flight or high-speed rail from major hubs; can be part of a multi-city trip. |
| Accommodation | Hotel rates surge significantly during the fair; limited availability. | Generally more affordable and stable year-round in the smaller city of Yiwu. |
| Local Logistics & Support | Focus on fair entry, interpreter services, and meetings; less need for complex local shipping consolidation during the visit. | Potential need for agent/consolidation services to group small orders from multiple booths, which adds a service fee but drastically reduces per-unit shipping costs. |
| Order Structure & Cash Flow | High upfront cost for large, custom orders (high MOQs, often 500+ units or full containers). | Lower upfront cost due to small, mixed-carton orders (MOQs as low as 1 carton); enables testing and better cash flow management. |
| Trip Duration & Flexibility | Fixed to the 3-week fair schedule; requires precise planning. | Flexible timing; visits can be shorter or extended based on need, reducing pressure and potential costs from rushed decisions. |
Breaking Down the Costs
The Canton Fair is a major event requiring significant travel and logistical planning, with costs for flights, hotels, and local transport in Guangzhou.
Attending Yiwu Market is more like a continuous sourcing trip, with expenses spread out and often lower per diem costs in the smaller city of Yiwu.
A Side-by-Side Financial Overview
A detailed comparison table shows the typical cost components for attending each sourcing destination, from travel and accommodation to on-ground support.
Maximizing Your Sourcing Budget
For the Canton Fair, planning around the biannual schedule and booking early is crucial to control costs.
For Yiwu, leveraging a local partner’s consolidation services can significantly reduce per-unit shipping costs and minimize the need for extended stays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yiwu market open during Canton Fair?
Yes. Yiwu’s permanent wholesale markets are open all year round, typically only closing for Chinese New Year. They remain open while the Canton Fair in Guangzhou is running. In 2026, the main Yiwu International Commodities Fair is expected to run in late October, which often overlaps with Canton Fair Phase 2, making it possible to attend both events in one trip.
Which is better for small business?
Yiwu Market is generally better for small businesses. It offers low minimum order quantities (MOQs), often as little as a few dozen units or one carton, making it ideal for startups and e-commerce sellers testing products. Canton Fair suppliers typically require higher MOQs (500+ units or full containers), which suits medium to large businesses focused on bulk orders.
Is Canton Fair cheaper than Yiwu?
No. For most everyday consumer goods and small commodities, Yiwu Market is generally cheaper per unit and requires much lower minimum order quantities. Canton Fair suppliers are larger manufacturers focused on bulk orders, so while the unit price can be competitive at high volumes, the total upfront cost is usually higher than buying smaller, mixed orders in Yiwu.
How far is Yiwu from Guangzhou?
Yiwu is about 968 km (601 miles) from Guangzhou in a straight line. By high-speed rail, the distance is roughly 1,172 km (728 miles), taking about 6–7 hours. Driving takes around 11–13 hours for a distance of approximately 1,130–1,190 km (702–739 miles).
Do I need an invitation for Yiwu market?
No formal invitation is required to visit Yiwu International Trade City. It is a permanent, open wholesale market you can enter freely during business hours with your passport. An official invitation letter is generally only needed for events like the Canton Fair for visa support, not for Yiwu Market itself.
Final Thoughts
The decision between Yiwu Market and the Canton Fair isn’t about which is better, but which is right for your business at this moment. Yiwu is your go-to for low-risk, flexible sourcing of ready-made goods with minimal order commitments. The Canton Fair is the strategic choice for securing large-scale, custom manufacturing from established factories. Your order volume, need for customization, and business growth stage are the deciding factors.
For many importers, the most effective approach is to combine both. Plan your trip around the Canton Fair’s schedule to discover new products and meet manufacturers, then travel to Yiwu to source complementary items, test new ideas with small orders, and manage inventory flexibly. This dual strategy leverages the strengths of each destination, turning a single sourcing trip into a comprehensive business development mission.
