Global buyers gather in Linyi for international sourcing event

LINYI, China, Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from chinadaily.com.cn:

More than 2,000 overseas buyers from more than 110 countries and regions across Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Africa, and the Middle East are gathering in Linyi to attend the 4th Linyi Trade City International Sourcing Conference, where they will join over 3,000 domestic buyers for on-site sourcing and matchmaking.

As one of the conference's three key supporting events, the Linyi International Product Selection Center is showcasing hardware, labor protection products, boards, and general merchandise in a dedicated physical showroom.

The center, which opened on Sept 28, now hosts 347 enterprises, 90 percent of which are local Linyi companies. Of the total, 90 percent are source factories, while 70 percent are integrated manufacturing and trading firms with export experience.

Leveraging the conference, the center aims to present the benefits of Linyi Trade City's comprehensive supply chain to buyers at home and abroad, and to turn short-term sourcing negotiations into long-term, stable cooperation between suppliers and buyers.

Linyi boasts 136 specialized wholesale markets and over 6 million types of products. Previously, foreign buyers needed a week to travel between the various markets and factories. As one sourcing agent put it: "We used to visit one factory at a time — maybe two a day. Now 20 factories' products are under one roof, and we can see 20 in a day."

The center's "one store linking over 10 source factories" model pools thousands of local manufacturers into a standardized export supply chain, enabling buyers to source multiple types of products in just half a day.

The center focuses on building materials, machinery, hardware, and labor protection — key products in demand across its target markets.

An Emirati buyer seeking wood-plastic panels discovered coatings, silicone sealant, and sanitary ware could all be sourced at a single location. A Kenyan buyer recorded videos of products, noting that "requests are quickly matched with suppliers." A first-time visitor from Ghana formed multiple tentative cooperation agreements after one round at the center, targeting construction templates and hardware for Africa's building industry.

In recent years, Linyi Trade City has focused on key markets in South Korea, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and Africa. In the first three quarters of the year, it organized over 470 overseas trade fairs, sending more than 2,300 enterprises on overseas visits.

SOURCE chinadaily.com.cn