Although the Chinese Year of the Goat is still more than five months away, merchants in the Spring Festival goods zone of Yiwu International Trade City have already switched into "Year of the Goat" mode, with the first batch of overseas orders delivered this month, China News Service reported on August 25, 2026.
"This year customers are buying Spring Festival items earlier than usual. We have already delivered the first batch of overseas orders this month," said Wang Zi, a Yiwu merchant specializing in New Year paintings. Because production, preparation and sea shipping can take one to two months, overseas clients typically purchase well in advance, with big customers from the United States, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia concentrating their purchasing before October, usually placing orders of more than 500,000 yuan each.
Merchants noted that thousands of designs are available, and major clients from Malaysia and Singapore have already begun inquiries and sample selection. As the global influence of the Chinese New Year grows, the consumer base is expanding beyond overseas Chinese communities, with more foreign consumers joining the festive atmosphere.
Yiwu merchants are also adapting products for international buyers, launching Spring Festival couplets and New Year paintings in English, Thai and Indonesian versions this year. Business associations are organizing trips to study traditional cultural elements and learn from leading cross-border e-commerce companies, aiming to find more partnership opportunities in overseas markets.
Image: Yiwu International Trading Town, home of the Spring Festival goods zone. Source: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).
