Visitors explore the 2026 Nantong Cross-Border E-Commerce Selection Exhibition. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

The 2026 Nantong Cross-Border E-Commerce Selection Exhibition opened on Sept 9 at the Nantong International Convention and Exhibition Center, with over 600 booths spread across 24,000 square meters.

The four-day event has grown beyond its regional roots, drawing manufacturers, platform operators and service providers from across the country. While the fair remains anchored in Nantong's established industrial base — home textiles, power tools, protective equipment, and apparel — this year saw a significant increase in out-of-town participants.

For the first time, exhibitors from outside the city accounted for more than a quarter of the total, with companies traveling from Hebei, Liaoning and Fujian provinces. They brought a wider range of products, including pet supplies, toys, luggage, swimwear and custom promotional items, reflecting the event's evolution into a nationally attended sourcing hub.

Artificial intelligence emerged as the dominant theme across the exhibition floor. Alibaba introduced its AI agent "Accio Work", while Focus Technology presented its "Mao Tan" trade intelligence platform. Local players also stepped into the spotlight: Jiangsu Sansheng Zhijie Technology demonstrated a full-chain AI system for home textiles, covering trend forecasting, smart pattern design, product simulation and e-commerce marketing. A range of AI computing firms and smart-device providers also joined, underscoring how machine-learning tools are increasingly applied to product sourcing, content creation and customized production.

Global marketplaces were well represented, with Alibaba, Amazon, eBay, TikTok and Temu alongside regional platforms such as Shopee, Noon and egatee. Service providers covered the full export pipeline — payments, enterprise resource planning, tax, logistics, warehousing and intellectual property — offering practical support for manufacturers looking to sell around the world.

"We used to run into quite a few pitfalls in logistics and compliance when doing cross-border business," said an executive with a home textile company in Nantong. "After visiting the sourcing fair today, I finally feel fully confident about the whole process." The comment echoed the sentiments of many small and medium-sized exporters.