The first phase of the 108th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) closed on Oct. 19. The total turnover of the current Canton Fair in the first phase stood at nearly 21.2 billion U.S. dollar, an increase of more than 12 percent compared with the previous fair.

The market turnover of Australia, Brazil, Canada and the United States witnessed a rapid growth compared with the previous fair, while the market turnover of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), EU (European Union), Japan, India and Africa declined.

The total turnover of the current fair declined 4 percent compared with that of 2007, the year before the financial crisis occurred. In the current Canton Fair, enterprises are more cautious towards orders, and short-term orders covering periods of less than three months accounted for nearly 52 percent of the total signed orders. Long-term orders of six months or more only accounted for around 12 percent.

The products exhibited in the current Canton Fair are mainly mechanical and electrical product, as well as building material products and others.

By Huang Beibei, People's Daily Online