From September 15 to 17, the Sinoright team met buyers, traders, manufacturers and logistics partners at ICIF China 2026 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre.
Over the three days at Booth E7H14, many conversations quickly moved beyond general product introductions. Visitors came with specific products, quantities, specifications, packaging requirements and target prices in mind, allowing our team to discuss practical sourcing requirements face to face.
What Buyers Were Looking For
Enquiries covered a broad range of chemicals and food ingredients, including SLES, citric acid, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), dioctyl phthalate (DOP), LAB, n-heptane, n-hexane, MEG, HEDP, PVC, melamine, vitamin C and sucralose.
Among them, SLES and citric acid appeared repeatedly in conversations with buyers from different markets. Several SLES enquiries have already moved into post-show quotation follow-up.
We also noticed more concentrated interest in certain products from particular groups of visitors. For example, several Turkish visitors asked about polyvinyl alcohol, while buyers from Europe, Southeast Asia, Russia and other markets discussed a variety of chemical raw materials and food ingredients.
These are observations from our conversations during the exhibition rather than a complete picture of regional demand, but they gave our team a useful first-hand view of what individual buyers are currently sourcing.
From Product Names to Specific Purchasing Requirements
One of the clearest differences between exhibition conversations and many initial online enquiries was the level of detail buyers were prepared to discuss.
Some visitors already knew the quantities they needed. Others focused on specifications, packing, current prices or longer-term supply arrangements.
A buyer from Singapore, for example, discussed a recurring annual requirement for DOP with a specific product specification. Drum packing and transportation arrangements for DOP were also discussed during the show.
Another buyer from Guinea was looking at a mixed-product purchase involving materials such as toluene, SLES, MEK and citric acid. With several products being considered for one relatively small shipment, price competitiveness and how to coordinate procurement across different materials became particularly important.
These discussions reflect the type of sourcing work Sinoright frequently handles: not only quoting a single product, but also helping buyers compare options, coordinate multiple materials and work through practical requirements before an order is placed.
Market Information Goes Both Ways
An exhibition is also an opportunity for us to update the information behind the quotations and sourcing support we provide.
During ICIF China 2026, our team spoke with freight forwarders and compared recent ocean freight rates for ports frequently used by our customers. Keeping track of freight movements is especially important for chemicals and other bulk or containerized products, where changes in logistics costs can materially affect the final landed price.
Our team also exchanged information with visiting manufacturers on current product conditions, pricing movements and market development priorities.
Bringing together information from buyers, manufacturers and logistics partners helps us better understand the factors behind a sourcing decision - not only the product price itself, but also specifications, packing, shipment planning and changing freight costs.
Face-to-Face Discussions, Followed by Practical Next Steps
Many visitors came to the booth with defined sourcing targets and quantities, making the discussions more focused. Our team answered product questions, recorded purchasing requirements and exchanged contact information for further follow-up.
For enquiries that require additional work after the exhibition, the next steps include preparing quotations, confirming specifications and packing requirements, and providing supporting documents such as COAs and SDS where required.
ICIF China 2026 has now concluded, but the sourcing discussions started in Shanghai continue.
If you met the Sinoright team at Booth E7H14, thank you for visiting us. If you were unable to attend the exhibition but are currently sourcing chemicals, food additives or other raw materials from China, you can also send us your product list, specification, quantity and destination port.
Our team will review your requirements and help you move the enquiry to the next step. Contact our team to discuss your sourcing requirement.