by ZHANG Xilong

China's largest trade fair is providing an early look at a shift in the nation's export mix—from cheap manufacturing to service-focused automation—as humanoid coffee makers, surgical robots and window-cleaning machines attract more attention than traditional appliances.

The first phase of the 138th Canton Fair held from Oct.15-19 attracted 158,000 overseas buyers — a 6.3% increase from spring — with visitors from 222 countries and regions. The most crowded venue was the service-robot pavilion, where buyers from the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Latin America were not browsing gadgets, but searching for automation to replace labor in aging, high-density cities.

AgiBot's A2 humanoid drew constant cameras as it served coffee and engaged with visitors. "We have received thousands of visitors in just a few days, and orders are coming faster than we expected," said CUI Yue, head of the Shanghai robotic maker's overseas sales. Nearby, massage and moxibustion robots drew continuous queues — a sign that what was once a novelty display has become a commercial focal point of the fair.

One of the strongest performers was X-Human, a Guangdong-based developer of window-cleaning robots for skyscrapers. Its latest model—designed to climb over 20-centimeter window frames and operate at heights of up to 600 meters—sold out its 50-unit presale within four days. The company expects about 12 million yuan (about $1.7 million) in intended orders, including purchases from Dubai-based clients facing high water and labor costs. The robots recycle and filter water internally, using roughly one-fiftieth the amount consumed in manual washing.

Southeast Asia also emerged as a fast-growing market. X-Human's single largest order came from Malaysia, where a building maintenance firm ordered 20 units worth more than $1 million. Smaller suppliers also secured initial sales — Guangzhou-based High Torque sold four compact bipedal robots to buyers from Nepal and India for education and research purposes.

Medical automation drew interest from buyers in South America and Eastern Europe. Yuanhua Robotics from Shenzhen displayed what it calls China's first orthopedic surgical robot that can support hip, knee and unicondylar replacement procedures. The system has been used in more than 5,000 surgeries in China and has obtained regulatory clearance in Southeast Asia and Saudi Arabia.

Behind the hardware, financial infrastructure is expanding to facilitate settlement. XTransfer, a major cross-border payments platform for small exporters, said 75.9% of its overseas receipts from January to September came from Asia, Africa and Latin America, up 123.6% year on year. The firm has rolled out local-currency collection accounts across the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America, processing around $10 billion in monthly transactions.

For many buyers, the surprise is the speed of China's shift. "Six months ago, there were barely any humanoids here," said Taber, a solar equipment buyer from Egypt filming exhibits for TikTok. "Now they make coffee, give massages — even assist in surgery."

The rise in service-robot exports fits into Beijing's push to move Chinese manufacturing up the value chain and away from low-margin, labor-intensive goods. The Canton Fair — founded in 1957 and still China's largest trade show — is held twice a year in three phases covering everything from industrial equipment and electronics to home appliances and textiles. Its first phase showcases machinery and technology, while the later sessions focus on consumer products and services.