Published by ChinaMNC · Yangxi

Yangjiang Knife Expo 2026: What Foreign Founders Should Know About China’s Cutlery Hub

The 25th China (Yangjiang) International Hardware and Knife Scissors Expo runs Oct 20–22, 2026. For foreign founders, it offers a window into Yangjiang’s knife industry cluster—over 8,500 market entities, a 15-day ore-to-finished-product supply chain, and export ties to 160+ countries. This guide summarizes official facts and practical takeaways for registering or operating a company in China.

Yangjiang Knife Expo: A Gateway to China’s Cutlery Industry Cluster

The 25th China (Yangjiang) International Hardware and Knife Scissors Expo will take place from October 20 to 22 at the Yangjiang International Convention and Exhibition Center. The event marks the expo’s 25th anniversary and adopts the theme “Leap Forward.” According to a press conference held on October 12, the expo will feature 598 booths and 231 exhibiting companies, creating a platform for industry-wide exchange and cooperation.

For foreign founders considering manufacturing, sourcing, or trading in China’s hardware sector, the expo and the surrounding industrial ecosystem in Yangjiang offer a concentrated view of supply chain capabilities, supplier density, and export pathways.

Why Yangjiang Matters for Cutlery and Hardware

Yangjiang is known as a “golden brand” in China’s hardware and knife scissors industry. Over the years, the expo has attracted more than 1 million merchants and generated transaction value of 4 billion yuan, earning recognition as the “No.1 exhibition in the hardware and knife scissors industry.”

Today, Yangjiang hosts more than 8,500 market entities related to knives and scissors, employing nearly 200,000 people. The industry has formed a “one-hour supply chain circle,” enabling full-process delivery from ore to finished product in as little as 15 days. The industrial export scale exceeds 8 billion yuan, with products sold to more than 160 countries and regions. The city is home to 2 national-level specialized and sophisticated “little giant” enterprises, 23 specialized and sophisticated enterprises, and 36 innovative small and medium-sized enterprises. Knife and scissors companies have accumulated more than 5,000 patents.

These figures signal a mature, concentrated supply base—relevant for foreign founders evaluating joint ventures, wholly foreign-owned enterprises, or sourcing operations in China.

What to Expect at the 25th Expo

The exhibition area covers 20,000 square meters and is divided into four major zones: finished products, parts and components, raw materials and auxiliary materials, and intelligent manufacturing machinery. In addition, four thematic pavilions focus on investment promotion, a “shopping town,” application scenarios, and “Belt and Road” + RCEP + APEC cooperation.

The organizer has arranged nine activities, including exhibitions, professional seminars, and trade promotion events. Industrial clusters from Yangchun—such as industrial mother machines and abrasives—will exhibit collectively, covering the entire upstream and downstream chain of the knife and scissors industry. Leading brands such as Shibazi, Wangmazi, Yongguang, Yinying, and Hongfeng will be present, alongside six overseas companies from Japan, Sweden, and other countries. The number of overseas exhibitors is the highest in the expo’s history.

International Buyer Outreach and Market Access

The expo maintains a professional and international orientation, with buyer invitations extended globally. Purchasers from 49 countries and regions, including Romania, Sweden, and Morocco, will attend. In addition to traditional European and American markets, the organizing committee is using channels such as consulates and Guangdong chambers of commerce to invite buyers from “Belt and Road,” RCEP, and APEC regions. Domestic supermarket chains, hotels, restaurant chains, and e-commerce representatives will visit source factories in the knife and scissors town and condiment town for direct procurement and product selection.

For foreign founders, these activities provide opportunities to meet suppliers, understand product standards, and explore partnership models—whether through a representative office, a trading company, or a manufacturing entity in China.

“Expo+” Model and Practical Business Insights

The organizer is implementing an “Expo+” model. Inside the venue, a “shopping town” zone will offer expo-exclusive discounts in coordination with local merchants. An investment promotion display area will showcase Yangjiang’s “4+4+X” modern industrial system. Customized industrial tourism routes—“see the expo, see the sea, see intangible cultural heritage”—aim to attract visitors and amplify the expo’s spillover effects, further promoting Yangjiang’s reputation as China’s “Capital of Knives and Scissors.”

Vice Mayor Zheng Weizhen attended the press conference.

Key Takeaways for Foreign Founders

• Supplier density: With over 8,500 related market entities, Yangjiang offers a deep pool of potential suppliers and partners.
• Speed: The “one-hour supply chain circle” and 15-day ore-to-finished-product cycle can support fast turnaround for product development and order fulfillment.
• Export orientation: Products already reach 160+ countries, indicating existing logistics and compliance experience for international trade.
• Innovation: Over 5,000 patents and a tiered system of specialized SMEs suggest a growing focus on technology and quality.
• Access: The expo’s international buyer program and overseas exhibitors make it a practical entry point for foreign founders to build local networks.

When considering company registration or operations in China, foreign founders should evaluate location-specific advantages such as industry clusters, supply chain maturity, and local government support. Yangjiang’s knife and scissors cluster exemplifies how an industrial ecosystem can reduce sourcing complexity and accelerate time-to-market.

This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.

For assistance with registering and operating a company in China, foreign founders can contact ChinaMNC on WhatsApp / WeChat at +86 153 1898 8535.