Overview
The 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) runs 5-10 November 2026 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center, Shanghai. This is the trade show in reverse direction — not China selling out, but global brands selling into China. BALKAN CHINA's CIIE service is built for Balkan / Turkish / European brand owners: pre-show coordination, on-site interpretation, buyer matching, post-show landing support.
Why CIIE is different
Buyers from China, exhibitors from the world: opposite to Canton Fair / CIIF. CIIE is China's flagship import expo. Professional visitors are mostly Chinese SOEs, local-government delegations, retail chains, e-commerce platforms and healthcare-system buyers.
"Exhibits become commerce" policy benefit: imported exhibits sold during CIIE enjoy tax allowance up to a quota. The expo is also linked to the year-round "6+365" CIIE permanent display & trade platform — making continued China presence easier.
Fastest path to face-time with major Chinese buyers: Hema, Sam's Club, JD, Tmall Global, RT-Mart, Yonghui and others run organised buying trips; provincial delegations (Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Sichuan…) sign on-site. For mid-sized brands, one trip's exposure equals many one-on-one visits.
Visa & customs windows: Shanghai operates green-channel arrangements for CIIE exhibitors during the expo. We help prepare invitation letters and visa supporting documents.
Audience & Standards
Who it's for:
- Balkan / Turkish / European food, wine, supplements, cosmetics, home goods and consumer-electronics brands
- Mid-sized D2C brands already in or planning to enter the China market
- Export-oriented companies that need face-time with retail-chain / e-commerce / cross-border-platform buyers
- Government / chamber-of-commerce delegations bringing local companies to CIIE
Service standards:
- 4-6 weeks pre-show: CIIE registration support, invitation letter, visa supporting documents
- Shanghai business hotel, airport transfer, city business car
- Booth-side Mandarin / English / Serbian business interpreters
- Buyer matching: pre-arranged introductions to retail-chain / e-commerce / cross-border buyers based on your category (subject to actual on-site availability)
- Post-show: contact list, initial interest summary, cross-border logistics & customs walkthrough
Key Information
Dates: 5-10 November 2026, NECC Shanghai.
Direction: import-themed (overseas → China), opposite to Canton Fair / CIIF.
City: Shanghai (with optional Yangtze River Delta distribution / warehousing / factory landing extensions).
Booth: not included — exhibitors apply for booth space directly with the CIIE bureau. We support registration but do not procure booths.
Cancellation & changes: Service-fee portion — 30+ days before departure: full refund; 29-15 days: 50% retained; under 14 days: non-refundable. If your Chinese visa is denied, costs already incurred (hotel / interpreter deposits) are deducted before refund. Booth fees and international flights follow CIIE / airline rules.
Notes: CIIE runs in the opposite direction to Canton Fair / CIIF — if you are a buyer, not a brand, look at our sourcing-direction trade show services instead. We recommend starting prep 4–6 weeks ahead.
Service Modules
Module 01 · Pre-show registration & visa: CIIE registration walkthrough, invitation letter, visa supporting documents; pre-show map of CIIE pavilions, target buyer types and on-site talking points.
Module 02 · Booth-side interpretation & business support: Mandarin / English / Serbian interpreter at the booth — buyer hosting, product walk-through, initial interest discussion.
Module 03 · Buyer matching: pre-arranged introductions to Chinese retail-chain / e-commerce / cross-border buyers based on your category, with on-site meetings.
Module 04 · Post-show landing: cross-border logistics & customs walkthrough, Shanghai bonded warehouse / cross-border e-commerce pilot zone landing paths, local agent / distributor background checks.
Related Services
- Are you a buyer, not a brand? → Sourcing direction · 5 fairs
- Want to add Bay Area factory-depth visits (manufacturing side)? → GBA Tech & Industry 8 Days
- Compare other trade-show services? → 6 trade-show services
Get a Quote
This is a custom service. Final scope and pricing depend on your category, exhibition scale, buyer-target type and post-show landing needs. We recommend starting at least 4-6 weeks ahead — especially on visas, invitation letters and key-buyer scheduling.