The 138th Canton Fair drew a record number of overseas buyers, with US attendance rising 14 per cent from the previous session despite persistent trade tensions, reports Caixin.

Held in Guangzhou since 1957, the twice-yearly trade fair is a major driver of Chinese exports and widely regarded as a barometer of the country's foreign trade.

Official figures showed over 310,000 overseas buyers from 223 countries and regions attended the fair - a 7.5 per cent increase from the spring session and the highest turnout in the event's history. Export deals signed on-site reached US$25.7 billion, sustaining growth momentum.

Attendance from the European Union, the Middle East and Brazil also surged, rising 32.7 per cent, 13.9 per cent and 33.2 per cent, respectively.

The uptick in US participation signals a reversal of recent trends, where American importers had shifted supply chains to Southeast Asia to sidestep tariffs on Chinese goods. The renewed interest suggests China's manufacturing efficiency is again outweighing cost and tariff considerations.