November is the busiest sourcing month of the year for pet supplies made in China. Two back-to-back shows in Guangzhou put most of the industry's new products, price lists and factory teams in one place — and buyers who cannot travel can still use the same window.
Canton Fair Phase 3: open until November 4
The consumer-goods phase of the 140th Canton Fair runs from October 31 to November 4 at the China Import and Export Fair Complex. Pet Products and Food sit in Area B, Hall 9.1, covering pet toys, training products, bowls and feeders, beds, cages, collars and leashes, clothing, aquarium products and grooming supplies.
CIPS 2026: November 12–15
Eight days later, the 30th China International Pet Show (CIPS) opens in Area B of the same complex, from November 12 to 15. It is a B2B trade show open to industry professionals only, with more than 1,400 exhibitors. According to organizer figures reported by Global Pet Index, the show covers about 120,000 square meters and expects more than 80,000 professional visitors from over 120 countries and regions. Pre-registration was running 20% ahead of last year for domestic visitors and more than 8% ahead for overseas visitors at the end of September, and the UK, Thailand and Vietnam are sending official buyer delegations for the first time. The organizer also offers one-to-one buyer–exhibitor matchmaking and a dedicated session for cross-border e-commerce sellers focused on small MOQs and rapid sampling.
Why it matters now
US pet industry sales are projected by the American Pet Products Association to reach $165 billion in 2026, with supplies, live animals and OTC medicines at $35.6 billion. Buyers who finalise designs and samples in November and December can approve bulk orders before the Chinese New Year slowdown and still ship in time for spring and summer resets.
Before you meet suppliers: a checklist
- Bring a short spec sheet for each target SKU: materials, sizes, colours, target retail price and expected annual volume.
- Ask every supplier the same questions — MOQ per SKU and per colour, sample cost and timing, bulk lead time after sample approval, and FOB or EXW terms — so quotes are comparable.
- Confirm packaging early: retail-ready box, header card or polybag, barcodes, carton size and pieces per carton.
- Ask for material information and any test reports you will need for your market, before you place the first order.
EU buyers: settle GPSR basics before ordering
Non-food pet accessories sold to consumers in the EU generally fall under the General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988, which has applied since December 13, 2024. Under it, importers must make sure products are safe before placing them on the market, put their name and postal and electronic address on the product, its packaging or an accompanying document, and supply clear instructions and safety information in a language consumers can easily understand. The manufacturer must also provide product identification such as a type, batch or serial number. Agree with your supplier at the RFQ stage where these details will be printed, so labels and packaging are right in the first production run.
Can't travel? Source remotely in the same window
Factories prepare new samples and updated price lists for the shows, so November is also the best time to request catalogues and samples by email. Send the same spec sheet you would bring to the fair, and ask for photos or video of samples before they ship.
Yling Pet supplies wholesale pet toys, apparel, beds, cat furniture, travel carriers, playpens, leashes and feeding products for brand buyers and retailers. Share your RFQ for specifications, MOQ and lead time — we reply within 24 hours, and samples are available on request.
Sources: Canton Fair official site (140th session dates and Phase 3 categories); CIPS official site (cipscom.com, dates, venue and exhibitor count); Global Pet Index CIPS 2026 preview (organizer pre-show figures); American Pet Products Association via Pet Food Processing (2026 projections); EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2023/988 and Your Europe importer guidance.
