Guangdong firms develop innovative tech

Zhang Haihan, the founder of Guangzhou PrintFash Ltd, has been a leading supplier of jeans on domestic cross-border e-commerce platforms since 2020, after being part of the clothing business in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, for over 10 years.

"In times of uncertainty in the foreign trade market, we should avoid being overly pessimistic due to short-term policy fluctuations and focus on self-improvement by attaching more importance to innovation and technology," said Zhang.

By leveraging technological innovation such as AI design tools and flexible supply chains, the company developed a print on demand, or POD platform in 2024, allowing overseas buyers to place orders more efficiently and offering more personalized small-batch T-shirts to the overseas market.

"If we stick to traditional methods, our production efficiency may be high, but the added value of the products is relatively low," Zhang said.

By utilizing the POD approach, clothing brands can achieve one-click customization, on-demand production, increase the value of their independent brands, reduce inventory, and better adapt to changes in the foreign trade environment, according to Zhang.

The POD platform has helped the company expand its partnerships in Ethiopia and other emerging regions, focusing on developing clothing brands locally.

"There is a strong demand for Chinese goods in the African market, which lacks mature POD service companies. We will collaborate with more partners to explore the emerging markets," said Zhang.

Like Zhang's company, more firms in Guangdong, an economic powerhouse in South China, are attaching greater importance to developing innovative technologies and products to boost their competitiveness in the overseas market.

Additionally, an increasing number of companies have introduced diversified marketing strategies to avoid the negative effects of the United States' latest tariff policy.

Guangdong's exports to the United States reached 948.81 billion yuan ($129.7 billion) in 2024, accounting for 16.1 percent of the province's total exports, a decrease from 16.99 percent in 2020, according to Customs data.

"We have little business in the United States," said Zeng Wendong, a manager of Guangzhou Tiger Head Battery Group Co Ltd. "With the rapid growth in energy demand, we are continuously expanding into markets of countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative and other emerging markets."

Over the past few years, the company has flexibly adjusted its product structure based on regional market demands, resource endowments and policy orientations, achieving breakthrough progress through technological innovation, market synergy, and green transformation.

The company has placed a strong emphasis on launching new alkaline batteries, which have been well received by customers in Algeria, with the first batch of customized trial orders having been secured, according to Zeng.

Sales of its lithium batteries have risen by 12 percent year-on-year in the first quarter, with new lithium batteries already being shipped to Iraq.

Headquartered in Guangzhou, the company's products have been sold to more than 90 countries and regions in Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Southeast Asia.

"Regular customers have confirmed their participation for the upcoming Canton Fair, during which we will launch new battery products and technologies," said Zeng.

The Canton Fair, formally known as the China Import and Export Fair, is scheduled to open its 137th session on Tuesday, with expectations of an increased number of visiting overseas buyers, according to the fair's organizers.

About 31,000 Chinese companies, or 900 more companies compared to the last session, will display their innovative products and technologies during the fair, which is held twice a year, in spring and autumn, respectively.