SHANGHAI, Nov.5 (China Economic Net) - The ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE) kicked off in Shanghai on November 5 for a six-day run. Under the theme "New Era, Shared Future," the annual event provides a platform for companies around the world to tap into opportunities created by China's modernization drive and explore new avenues for mutually beneficial cooperation.

At this year's expo, one word kept coming up in conversations with exhibitors: change. China is moving beyond being simply a consumer market and manufacturing base. It is increasingly becoming a place where new demands take shape, business solutions are tested, and homegrown capabilities are shared with the rest of the world.

From Getting Goods There to Managing Every Step — and Taking Solutions Global

“Thirty or forty years ago, customers mainly wanted to know whether we could get their shipments delivered — in two or three days, or four or five days. Today, they’re looking for much more added value,” said Wang Xiaonan, Marketing Director of UPS China.

At the UPS booth, much of that added value comes from digital services. As cross-border trade requirements grow more complex, the company has introduced an AI-powered tool that checks shipment declarations for missing information before submission. Other services allow customers to process shipping documents electronically, complete customs procedures in advance and calculate landed costs, including duties and taxes, before quoting prices. For healthcare shipments, UPS offers end-to-end monitoring of temperature, humidity and light exposure, along with round-the-clock GPS tracking.

China has also become a source of digital tools for UPS’s operations elsewhere. Building on the widespread use of WeChat, its local team developed services including a rewards center and the Palm Shipping platform. These tools are now being shared with colleagues across Asia-Pacific as references for similar services tailored to other markets.

“Today, China’s AI and digital technologies have become increasingly sophisticated. What we want to bring to the forefront now is the ‘smart’ in smart manufacturing,” Wang said.

From Serving China's EV Market to Supplying the Global Energy Grid

LG Energy Solution entered China in 2003 and has invested nearly $10 billion in Nanjing. In January 2025, the South Korean battery maker established its China headquarters in the city. This year marks its first appearance at CIIE.

Its display includes prismatic, pouch and cylindrical batteries. A new prismatic design uses a stacking process intended to reduce internal resistance and improve space utilization. The company is seeking agreements for its first commercial applications during the expo.

A larger shift is taking place at its Nanjing manufacturing base.

LG Energy Solution has already begun producing lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries for energy storage at the facility, with plans to increase supplies to power-grid projects in North America and Europe. Industry reports also describe the adaptation of existing electric vehicle battery production equipment, including stacking, slitting and electrolyte-filling systems, for energy storage products.

Choi Ji-woong, president of LG Energy Solution China, previously explained why the company chose Nanjing for its headquarters and key operations: “What ultimately convinced us to establish our presence here was the favorable business environment, solid industrial foundation and abundant talent pool.”

The shift gives Nanjing a role beyond supplying China’s electric vehicle market, making it part of the company’s production network for overseas energy infrastructure.

LG Energy Solution is also diversifying its materials supply chain. On October 30, POSCO Future M signed a memorandum of understanding with the company covering a proposed supply of 720,000 metric tons of cathode and anode materials from 2027 through 2033. The companies plan to expand their existing cooperation in nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) cathodes to include LFP cathodes and artificial graphite anodes, with a definitive agreement targeted by the end of 2026.

Expanding in China, Testing Products for Wider Markets

AirNutri’s growth at the CIIE can be measured in exhibition space. The company first attended at the invitation of a Canadian trade organization, occupying a 9-square-meter booth. This year, its space has grown to 144 square meters.

Before the third CIIE, AirNutri established a wholly owned company in China as its regional operating headquarters. It began developing the Chinese market independently in 2023.

At this year’s expo, the company is making the global debut of its L60-800 stress-relief sleep system. It also plans to invest more than 100 million yuan over three years in a program called “Good Dream Ambassador,” aimed at building a nationwide retail network through partnerships designed to reduce upfront investment and simplify store openings.

For AirNutri, China serves not only as a market for its products but also as a place to identify consumer needs and develop new offerings.

“ CIIE gives us a window into what the Chinese market really needs. We use our technology to develop solutions that address those needs. Once tested and proven in China, these solutions can also help us expand into broader international markets,” said Li Jingming, China Executive Officer of AirNutri.