(Yicai) April 17 -- Chinese home appliance manufacturers have focused more on innovation to attract international buyers through competitive differentiation at the first of this year's bi-annual Canton Fairs.

"I want to buy energy-efficient and smart connected air conditioners," a buyer from New Zealand told Yicai, with a Russian buyer also noting that he plans to purchase energy-saving products.

The 137th edition of the China Import and Export Fair opened in Guangzhou on April 15 and will run for 21 days. At about 31,000 companies, the number of participating businesses has exceeded 30,000 for the first time, according to the event's organizer.

Overseas buyers are very interested in energy-efficient and environmentally friendly air conditioners, the person in charge of a Canton Fair participating Chinese air-con maker said to Yicai. 

Many products exhibited by Chinese companies this year have integrated artificial intelligence technology, achieving breakthroughs in energy conservation and intelligent voice interaction, the person noted, adding that there is still untapped potential in using AI to improve performance.

The number of AI-powered home appliances, including air conditioners, televisions, refrigerators, and washing machines, has significantly increased at the event this year.

Haier Group displayed its smart refrigerator that can recommend recipes using DeepSeek-R1. "We will accelerate the application of AI voice and energy-saving tech to our products to create new growth points in overseas markets," according to a staff member at the company's booth.

Overseas buyers have been increasingly drawn to cleaning appliances recently, so Chinese manufacturers have brought various innovative products to the fair, including robot vacuum cleaners, lawnmowers, pool cleaners, and window cleaners to meet new demand.

It costs around EUR100 to EUR200 (USD114 to USD228) per hour for someone to mow your lawn in Europe, Ma Xianbin, a regional public relations director of Ecovacs Robotics, told Yicai. The firm's robot lawnmowers cost between EUR900 and EUR3,000 (USD1025 and USD3,410) a unit, can automatically plan their routes, are capable of autonomous work, save on labor, and are more environmentally friendly, Ma pointed out.

Dreame Technology's robot pool cleaners are popular among buyers from Australia, a staff member at its booth said to Yicai, adding that the company's new products can even be remotely controlled when underwater.

In response to the new uncertainties in global trade, a Foshan-based small home appliance exporter adjusted its overseas strategy to expand product categories, adopt innovative tech and novel appearance designs, and focus on driving market channels outside the US, a person in charge of the company told Yicai.

Joyoung Electrical Appliance Group, headquartered in Cixi, often called China's "capital of small household appliances," will strengthen product innovation, including launching steam irons with more output and electric steamers with more application scenarios, to stabilize international customers' expectations and enhance ties, Executive President Dong Jianqiang said to Yicai.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Martin Kadiev