Car series
The organizing committee announced on July 18 that the expo will be held in Zhengzhou. It will be hosted by the China Communications and Transportation Association and jointly planned by Logistics Times Weekly.
Logistics Industry in Focus
The global logistics industry continues to face a challenging environment in 2026. Geopolitical tensions remain high, global trade patterns are changing, and the global economic recovery is still under pressure.
At the same time, many foreign government leaders continue to visit China, reflecting continued international interest in the Chinese market.
Logistics is closely linked to economic and industrial development. In 2026, China will continue to develop six major infrastructure networks, with logistics included as a key part of the national infrastructure system.
The use of artificial intelligence in transportation and logistics is also growing quickly. AI is being applied to more parts of the logistics process, helping companies improve efficiency, expand their businesses and accelerate digital transformation.
International logistics is also continuing to grow. As the Belt and Road Initiative moves forward, the China-Europe Railway Express had operated more than 130,000 train services by May 2026, carrying cargo worth more than $520 billion.
The figures also point to continued growth potential in cross-border logistics.
2026 marks the beginning of China's 15th Five-Year Plan period and an important new stage for the logistics industry.
Against this background, the expo will be held under the theme “New Silk Road Hubs, New Momentum for Logistics.”
The event will bring together logistics companies, technology providers and industry organizations to exchange ideas and explore business opportunities across the supply chain.
The China International Transportation and Logistics Expo was first launched in 1997. It has since been held 22 times in cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Nanjing, Ningbo, Xiamen and Jinan.
After years of development, it has become an important exhibition for China's transportation and logistics industries.
Larger Exhibition, Eight Key Areas
The 2026 expo will expand its exhibition space and event program, while continuing to attract participants from across the transportation and logistics industries.
According to the organizing committee, the exhibition area will be larger than the 30,000 square meters used at the previous expo.
The exhibition will feature eight major areas covering supply chain logistics, multimodal transport, smart logistics, green logistics, air cargo, ports and shipping, land transportation and cold-chain logistics.
A low-altitude aviation exhibition and a smart commercial vehicle exhibition will also be held during the event. They will showcase new products, technologies and applications in transportation and logistics.
In addition to the exhibition, the event will feature dozens of industry forums and business matchmaking activities.
Major events will include the 15th Logistics Investment and Financing Conference, the 12th Urban Logistics and Supply Chain Conference, and the 2026 Air Cargo and Airport Development Conference.
Other events will include a conference on connected commercial vehicles and components, a low-altitude industry investment and financing conference, and a Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone promotion event.
The organizers will also invite cargo owners, logistics service providers and other companies to form buyer groups.
One-on-one business meetings will be arranged to help companies find potential partners and explore business opportunities.
The expo will also work with industry media outlets and other media platforms to promote the event and its exhibitors.
More International Cooperation
International cooperation and cross-border logistics will be another major focus of the expo.
Several international events will be held during the exhibition, including the China-Europe Medical Devices Cold-Chain Logistics Cooperation and Exchange Meeting, the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor Industry and Investment Development Conference, the China-Egypt Logistics and Supply Chain Cooperation Meeting, and a business matchmaking event focused on opportunities in emerging markets.
These events will help Chinese companies better understand overseas markets, find international partners and develop cross-border supply chain cooperation.
Multimodal Transport Takes Center Stage
Multimodal transport will be one of the key areas of the 2026 expo.
A dedicated exhibition area will showcase multimodal transport solutions. A conference on the high-quality development of multimodal transport will also be held during the event.
The discussions will focus on improving connections between road, rail, sea and air transport, promoting the use of a single transport document, and developing cross-regional transport corridors.
The exhibition will showcase integrated and smart multimodal transport solutions.
These solutions are designed to improve connections between different modes of transport and increase the efficiency of domestic long-distance freight and cross-border logistics.
AI Applications in Logistics
AI and transportation will also be a major focus of the expo.
A dedicated smart logistics exhibition area will showcase the use of AI in transportation and logistics.
Industry experts, business leaders and related organizations will discuss how AI could shape the future of the logistics industry.
The final round of the College Student Transportation Practice and Innovation Competition will also be held during the expo.
The event will work with universities and research institutions to promote cooperation between companies, universities and research organizations.
It will also give young innovators an opportunity to present new ideas and technologies in transportation and AI.
Other activities will include launches of new logistics products, technologies and applications, as well as city and industry promotion events.
Expo Comes to Zhengzhou for the First Time
Zhengzhou will host the China International Transportation and Logistics Expo for the first time.
Located in central China, Zhengzhou is an important transportation hub and one of China's major cities. It is also a key city along the Belt and Road Initiative.
In recent years, Zhengzhou has developed a multimodal transport system covering road, rail, sea and air transport through major platforms such as the Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone and Zhengzhou International Land Port.
The city has also developed a strong hub economy, along with growing capabilities in cross-border trade and cold-chain logistics.
The Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone is an important part of this development.
It is the only national-level pilot zone for airport-based economic development approved by China's State Council. After more than 10 years of development, the zone has developed eight key strengths in areas including its institutional framework, transportation network, openness, industrial base, development space, business environment, talent pool and market size.
The zone is now focusing on advanced manufacturing and the development of a modern industrial system.
Key industries include electronic information and next-generation information technology, new energy vehicles, biomedicine and healthcare, and aerospace.
It is also developing strategic emerging industries such as advanced equipment, new energy and new materials, as well as modern services including logistics, exhibitions, trade, culture and tourism.
These industries provide a larger market and more opportunities for the logistics sector.
To connect the expo with local industries in Henan Province, the event will also include a dedicated Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone promotion event and visits to local companies and industrial facilities.
These activities will help exhibitors and professional visitors learn more about the Henan market and explore local business opportunities.
2026 marks the beginning of China's 15th Five-Year Plan period.
The 23rd China International Transportation and Logistics Expo will build on Zhengzhou's transportation and industrial strengths to expand its exhibition, cover more areas of the logistics industry and bring together logistics resources from China and overseas.
The event aims to provide logistics companies with a platform to exchange ideas, find partners and explore new business opportunities.
The 23rd China International Transportation and Logistics Expo will be held in Zhengzhou from November 19 to 21, 2026.
