In the cross-border e-commerce industry, micro and small enterprises now account for over 90%! On the day before the opening of the 136th Canton Fair, the platform WorldFirst released its 2024 "New Digital Trade Landscape Report". Using WorldFirst's user data as an example, the report illustrates how regional policies are promoting the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In the first half of 2024, the overall transaction volume of "micro-multinational enterprises" in RCEP countries and regions increased by 190% year-on-year. The report highlights that China's share of intermediate goods trade in the Asia-Pacific region has been steadily rising in recent years, playing a crucial role in the Asia-Pacific value chain.

WorldFirst's data shows that the number of Chinese businesses expanding overseas in the first half of 2024 increased by 76% compared to the previous year.

The report also notes that in recent years, major cross-border e-commerce platforms have continuously expanded their service scope, introduced diversified service models, and actively adjusted their policies to attract new sellers. This has allowed more "micro-multinational enterprises" to achieve rapid growth, with significant improvements in product competitiveness and user numbers, gradually evolving into "cross-border small giant enterprises."

What is a "cross-border small giant" enterprise? The report provides a profile: on average, these companies have 100-200 employees, specialize in niche markets, and are highly capable of fully tapping into product category potential. They enjoy a high level of recognition and influence within their industries and are typically adept at digital operations.

As a typical "second-generation entrepreneur", Li Zhaoyang, a trade merchant from Huizhou specializing in inflatable mattresses, manages a "cross-border small giant" company. He is full of expectations as he participates in the 136th Canton Fair as a cross-border e-commerce exhibitor.

Li Zhaoyang explained that 20 years ago, his father made friends with overseas exhibitors at the Canton Fair by handing out business cards, selling mattresses to Walmart in North America. Now, as the son returns to the Canton Fair, he utilizes platforms like Amazon, wayfair, temu, and his own website to sell their patented inflatable mattress brand, expanding from a single North American market to nearly 10 markets, including Germany, France, spain, italy, the UK, and Japan.

The Canton Fair provides exhibitors and buyers with full-chain trade services, enabling global buyers and sellers to conduct business negotiations both online and offline. at the press conference, Chen Lan, the Research Partner of Deloitte, stated that the Canton Fair, which has been held for 67 years and is now in its 136th session, is transforming from a biannual spring and autumn exhibition into a "never-ending Canton Fair."

"The vitality of the Canton Fair lies in its ability to keep pace with the times. Today, the Canton Fair not only deeply integrates online and offline elements but also actively involves cross-border e-commerce, with digital technology accelerating comprehensive services. This allows SMEs to conduct safe transactions 24/7 and more easily reach overseas markets than ever before," said Chen Lan. She added that companies leading in brand innovation, Consumption upgrades, and industrial advancement are more likely to stand out quickly and become "cross-border small giants."

Source :Lingnan on the Cloud

中小企业成出海主力军！“永不落幕的广交会”呈现全球数字贸易新图景

在跨境电商这一行业中，小微企业占比已经超过90%！在136届广交会开幕前一天，万里汇（WorldFirst）平台，发布了2024年度《数字贸易新图景报告》。万里汇（WorldFirst）的用户数据为例，展示了区域政策促进中小企业的增长：2024年上半年，“微型跨国企业”在RCEP国家和地区的整体交易额同比增长190%。报告指出，中国在亚太地区中间产品贸易的份额占比近年来不断增加，在亚太价值链中发挥着重要作用。

从万里汇平台的数据来看：2024年上半年，去海外展业的中国商家数同比增长76%。

报告指出：近年来，各大跨境电商平台持续扩大服务范围、推出多样化服务模式，积极调整招商入驻政策，让更多“微型跨国企业”实现快速成长，产品力、用户量都得到较大提升，逐渐走向“跨境小巨人企业”。

何为“跨境小巨人”？报告给出了这一画像，即企业规模在100-200人，深耕细分赛道，能够充分挖掘品类潜力，在行业中具有较高的知名度和影响力，同时他们大都善于数字经营。

作为典型的“广二代”，来参加136届广交会的惠州充气床垫贸易商李钊阳管理着一家“跨境小巨人”公司，他以跨境电商的身份参展广交会期待满满。

李钊阳说20年前，父亲就在广交会上靠发名片等方式和海外参展商交朋友，成功把床垫销到北美沃尔玛超市；如今，儿子再参加广交会已通过亚马逊、Wayfair、Temu等多个全球电商平台和自建独立站，把有多项专利的自主品牌充气床垫，从单一北美市场卖到德国、法国、西班牙、意大利、英国、日本等近10个市场。

广交会为展客商提供全链条贸易服务，目前已让全球买家和卖家，在线下和线上都能上广交会交易洽谈。在发布会现场，德勤研究合伙人陈岚表示，广交会历经67年，办到了136届，正从每年的春秋两季展，变成“永不落幕”的广交会。

“广交会的生命力，在于与时俱进。如今广交会不仅线上、线下深度融合，而且有了跨境电商积极参与，数字技术加速全面服务，使得中小企业不仅可以7*24小时安全交易，更是比以往更轻松触达海外市场。”陈岚表示，那些在品牌创新、消费提质、产业升级方面领先的企业，更容易快速地脱颖而出，成为“跨境小巨人”。

文｜记者 戴曼曼 沈钊
图｜受访者提供
译｜赵凡
英文审校｜王枥焓