Christmas may still be months away, but factories in Yiwu have already been busy producing and shipping holiday goods.
Yiwu exported 2.14 billion yuan ($316 million) worth of Christmas products during the first half of 2026, according to local customs data. That was an increase of 20.4 percent from the same period last year.
One reason for the growth is that overseas buyers are placing their orders earlier.
In previous years, many European customers ordered Christmas products between June and August. This year, however, some buyers began contacting factories shortly after the Spring Festival. They wanted to receive their products earlier and reduce uncertainty in their supply chains.
"Customers are placing orders earlier and earlier each year," said Chen Xiaofang, who runs a Christmas clothing and decoration company in Yiwu.
Most of Chen's orders have already been shipped, and the remaining deliveries are expected to be completed by the end of August.
Jiang Jiangping, another Christmas product manufacturer, has noticed the same change. After working in the industry for about 30 years, she said the unusually early orders had kept her factory busy for most of the year.
Earlier orders are not the only change. Buyers are also looking for a wider range of designs.
Traditional Christmas products remain popular, but new designs often receive the most attention. To respond more quickly, Jiang's company has created an eight-person design team that follows international trends and studies changing customer preferences.
The team now uses artificial intelligence-assisted tools to speed up parts of the design process. The company has introduced more than 400 new designs this year.
Chen's company offers over 1,000 types of Christmas textile products. They range from simple, low-cost hats to more detailed and expensive decorations. This allows the company to serve customers with different budgets and tastes.
Yiwu manufacturers once focused mainly on producing goods designed by overseas brands. Today, many are developing their own products. Years of working with international buyers have helped them understand different cultures and consumer preferences.
The change shows how Yiwu's small manufacturers stay competitive: they respond quickly, offer products at different prices and constantly create new designs.
For shoppers, Christmas is still far away. In Yiwu's factories, however, the holiday season is already well underway.