What happened
The 2026 Shaoxing International Pet Products Expo was held in Shaoxing, Zhejiang, from September 4 to 6, bringing together more than 100 exhibitors across categories such as pet food, daily necessities, medical care and smart devices for Chinese and international buyers.
Running alongside the expo was the 1+N cross-border e-commerce enterprise assistance initiative 'Zheli Going Global' (Shaoxing station), organized by the Zhejiang Provincial Council for the Promotion of International Trade. The program moved foreign-trade services onto the exhibition floor, offering trend interpretation, practical operating guidance and resource matching for manufacturers dealing with overseas expansion challenges.
Many Shaoxing companies, rooted in the local textile industry, have diversified into pet products such as apparel and beds, selling globally via cross-border e-commerce. Still, some lack the operational experience needed to succeed abroad. At the expo, service provider Fu Haijiao said pet products are now competing on intelligence, health and emotion, citing that cleaning and grooming supplies plus smart devices accounted for over 55% of gross merchandise value in a sample of 100 pet-product stores on a cross-border platform. Wang Mengying from Ruikong Zhilian recommended that companies use AI-enabled ERP systems to forecast sales and identify potential hits.
Why it matters
By embedding trade services directly into an industry expo, the initiative lowers the barrier for traditional manufacturers entering the pet sector. Instead of requiring companies to seek help separately, it brings trend analysis and expert advice to where they are already doing business, which can make cross-border support more accessible for small and medium-sized factories.
Shaoxing's experience shows how established manufacturing bases can pivot to a rapidly growing export category when given the right digital and operational tools. Shrinking the e-commerce skills gap is crucial for these firms to capture more value from global pet spending rather than remaining merely contract suppliers.
Key facts
The 2026 Shaoxing International Pet Products Expo convened in Shaoxing, Zhejiang, from September 4 to 6, attracting more than 100 pet industry exhibitors.
The 'Zheli Going Global' 1+N cross-border e-commerce assistance action held its Shaoxing station concurrently with the expo, hosted by the Zhejiang Provincial Council for the Promotion of International Trade.
Shaoxing companies with textile expertise are selling pet clothing and pet beds overseas through cross-border e-commerce.
According to a service provider, cleaning and grooming items along with smart devices generated more than 55% of sales among a tracked sample of 100 pet-product stores on a cross-border platform.
A representative from Ruikong Zhilian suggested manufacturers use AI combined with ERP systems to improve inventory management, ad placement and risk control.
What to watch next
It remains to be seen whether the model of combining trade-assistance actions with major trade exhibitions will be replicated at other sector-specific events, which could help more manufacturing clusters enter new overseas niches with guided support.
The emphasis on AI-driven tools suggests that adoption of digital systems for sales forecasting and inventory management may become a key factor in how quickly traditional factories turn their production strengths into competitive cross-border brands.