You know how people say “the world has gone off the rails”? That’s exactly how it feels… Innocent people dying, bombs exploding, wars over oil… And in the midst of all this, global trade somehow goes on. As our trip to China approached following the war that broke out in Iran, there was only one question on the lips of our loved ones: “Which airspace are you flying through?” With our suitcases in hand and a journey of over 30 hours ahead of us, including layovers, we set off. The 26th edition of the Xiamen Stone Fair is taking place in just such an atmosphere. From İzmir to Istanbul, then to Guangzhou, and finally to Xiamen—we reach our destination.
THE INTENSITY OF THE FIRST DAY
Before the fair, we visited the warehouses in Shuitou, but we’ll set that aside as a separate analysis and begin with the Xiamen Stone Fair itself… This magnificent event, opening its doors for the 26th time, greets us with a massive crowd on the first day. Participants are smiling, and at the entrance, local Chinese performances begin. Captivating dances, music, and local artists… “It’s showtime,” we say, and start exploring the stands of the Xiamen Stone Fair, held between March 16–19, 2026.
300 INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITORS
Undoubtedly, when evaluating a trade fair, its international identity is a key criterion… Once again, Xiamen Stone Fair succeeded in bringing together the global natural stone community. Held under the theme “Keep Passion,” the fair hosted more than 2,000 exhibitors from 40 different countries. According to a statement by the organizer, Xiamen Jinhongxin Exhibition, 300 of these exhibitors were international. Italy ranked first with 72 companies, making it the most represented country in Xiamen. Italy was followed by Turkey, Brazil, Greece, and Egypt.
154 THOUSAND VISITORS
With its 191,000 m² exhibition area, the Xiamen International Conference and Exhibition Center welcomed more than 154,000 visitors over four days. Xiamen Jinhongxin Exhibition also emphasized the international profile of the visitors. It was stated that the fair attracted natural stone professionals from 122 countries to Xiamen. Visitors from countries such as India, Russia, South Korea, Australia, Malaysia, and Singapore added vibrancy to the event.
56 COMPANIES FROM TURKEY
As for Turkey’s participation… Having been the leading country in Xiamen for years, Turkey once again fell behind Italy. A total of 56 Turkish companies exhibited their products. Of these, 22 companies attended under the national participation organization coordinated by the Aegean Mineral Exporters’ Association, while 34 companies participated individually, presenting their products to the international market. It is also worth noting that among these 56 participants were three natural stone industry magazines and the Marble İzmir Fair.
7 COMPANIES UNDER THE URGE PROJECT
In addition to these 56 companies, 7 more firms took part in Xiamen within the scope of the URGE project. On the first day of the fair, a symbolic opening ceremony was held with the participation of İbrahim Alimoğlu, Chairman of the Aegean Mineral Exporters’ Association; Adnan Hayal, Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in Guangzhou; Şerife Yıldırım Demirel, Commercial Attaché in Guangzhou; İbrahim Altınpınar, Vice Chairman of EMİB; and members of the board. Following the ceremony, the stands of Turkish companies participating in the fair were visited.
NEW FACES IN XIAMEN
We have frequently highlighted, both in our conversations and in our coverage, that the Xiamen Fair is gradually developing a new identity. Alongside block marble, the presence of customers interested in cut-to-size and slab products has also increased, attracting new participants from Türkiye. Companies such as D Style Marble, Marble Shop, and Artistik Marble—known for their success in processed product exports and project-based work—stood out as new participants at the fair.
THE DESIGN SHOW OF THE CHINESE
Without a doubt, we had grown accustomed to the impressive stands of Italian companies in Verona. However, it is worth emphasizing that Chinese companies have now caught up with—and in some cases even surpassed—their Italian counterparts in this area. In Hall C3, where China’s major companies were located, we encountered a wide range of remarkable stands. Innovative surface finishes, in particular, drew our attention. The dominance of green and red tones was once again among the most striking details.
BRAZIL ONCE AGAIN IN THE SPOTLIGHT
As in the past two years, the star of the Xiamen Fair was once again Brazil. With their vibrant stones, eye-catching stands, and energetic presence, it would not be an exaggeration to say that Brazilian exhibitors left their mark on China. At the same time, it is worth noting that Cambodian stones have recently been gaining increasing popularity in the Chinese market.
NO FAIR WITHOUT MARBLE TREND
As Marble Trend, we were proud to take part in Xiamen Stone 2026 both as a media partner and an exhibitor. We distributed our Xiamen Stone Special Issue, prepared in Chinese and English. Industry professionals from China to India, and from Australia to Italy, visited our stand. Some thanked us, saying, “We have the opportunity to learn everything about Türkiye,” as they placed our magazine in their bags, while others preferred the digital version.
