15 de November de 2024 - zeumat
On November 9, 2024, product exhibitions at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) once again coincided with the popular “Singles‘ Day” shopping event. Throughout these seven years, platforms such as Tmall, JD, Douyin and Xiaohongshu have worked together with international brands helping these brands identify the precise demand in the Chinese market and develop products tailored to local preferences, thus expanding access to imported products.
At this year’s CIIE, highlights such as South Africa’s avocado, which is making its debut in the Chinese market, captured attention. In just ten minutes of its first live broadcast, nearly 1,000 units were sold.
According to Zhu Mengfang, South Africa’s deputy consul general in Shanghai, until now, 90% of South African avocados were exported to Europe. With the opening of the Chinese market, a significant increase in global South African avocado production is expected, which could reach 88,000 tons by the end of 2024. This dynamic of “Exhibited today, home tomorrow” has become commonplace during “Singles’ Day”.
Tmall International’ s booth also debuted other products such as Nintendo’s Alarmo alarm clock and Sony’s PS5 Pro , which are already available for the Chinese market. During the 2024 CIIE, the famous Kol Li Jiaqi also joined the event, offering products such as New Zealand milk powder and Comvita manuka honey, which can be purchased directly.
According to data from China’s Ministry of Commerce, cross-border e-commerce has grown more than tenfold in the last five years and now numbers more than 120,000 companies. The responsiveness of the Chinese market and the strengthening of the infrastructure for cross-border commerce benefits both consumers and international brands.
Several foreign brands have highlighted the great potential of the Chinese market, even in very specific sectors. One example is the South African avocado, whose consumption in China has grown rapidly due to healthy eating trends. South African avocado helps to offset seasonal variations in other producing countries and stands out for its high oil content and special flavor, which has gained popularity in China.
Another case is the Italian brand DAVINES, which, through Xiaohongshu, identified an increase in demand for shampoo products with anti-fat and volumizing effects, as well as a greater focus on fragrances in hair products. Leveraging this data, the brand collaborated with local buyers to better position itself in the Chinese market.
With a population of more than 1.4 billion people and a retail market in excess of 47 trillion yuan, China has established itself as one of the largest consumer markets in the world. For many brands, penetrating the Chinese market through cross-border e-commerce means tapping into a massive and diversified audience. Increasingly discerning Chinese consumers, looking for products that align with their values, are driving the growth of niche brands and customized products.
The development of advanced ecommerce technologies is also helping international brands get closer to consumers. Douyin, for example, uses its digital marketing expertise and AR tools to offer users a virtual experience, where they can “try on” fashion products and accessories. These advances have positioned Douyin as a key player in the cross-border e-commerce ecosystem in China, enabling more and more consumers to find unique products from different parts of the world.
China remains one of the world’s largest consumer markets, and demand for international products is only growing. Ecommerce platforms such as Douyin, Tmall and JD have built a logistics and distribution ecosystem that allows international brands to offer their products without long delays, thus facilitating direct access to the growing Chinese consumer base. The integration between exhibitions like CIIE and large-scale trade events like Singles’ Day is a reflection of how cross-border e-commerce in China has evolved, providing new opportunities for brands of all sizes.
This “exhibited today, home tomorrow” model symbolizes the CIIE’s vision: a China open to the world, where innovations in logistics and e-commerce continue to break down barriers, allowing global brands to connect with millions of Chinese consumers in a matter of hours.
Written by Wenyang Zhong
Source: CIIE
