Visitors stop by the booth of Zhejiang Micade Industry and Trade Co at the 137th Canton Fair. [Photo/Tide News]

The 137th Canton Fair is in full swing, and Jinhua is making its strongest showing yet. A total of 994 companies from the city are participating, occupying 1,786 booths — both record highs.

The fair, which runs from April 15 to May 5 in three phases, spans 1.55 million square meters and hosts around 74,000 booths and 31,000 exhibitors.

In the first phase alone, Jinhua has 271 companies bringing products across 21 categories, including electronics, hardware, machinery, auto parts, and industrial automation.

Among them is Zhejiang Micade Industry and Trade Co, which is promoting a self-cleaning vacuum cleaner with triple filtration and upgraded German-made filters to reduce dust emissions and protect users' health.

"We've already received sample requests from several European and American buyers," said chairman Wang Guangzheng. The company sees the Canton Fair as a key launchpad.

Targeting markets in countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative — where 72 percent of the fair's overseas buyer registrations come from — Jinhua companies are rolling out innovations tailored to those regions.

On opening day, Jinhua SunMaster Solar Co sealed a $96,000 deal for its new 360-degree solar streetlights with a client from Cameroon and received 82 business cards from buyers representing over 20 countries.

"We're thrilled," said Yao Chunli, general manager of the company. The firm's latest product features a cylindrical solar panel that captures sunlight from all angles and is designed to shed desert dust, boosting efficiency in tough environments like the Middle East.