Marketplace Morning Report The Chinese city powering Christmas
Dec 25, 2025
Discover Yiwu, the bustling Chinese city that supplies over half of the world's Christmas decorations. Explore its transformation from a rural town to a global trade hub for festive goods. Hear about the entrepreneurial spirit driving innovation in ornament production, and the challenges traders face amid rising U.S. tariffs. As U.S. orders decline, merchants are shifting focus to markets in Latin America and the EU, all while preparing for future Christmas seasons.
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Yiwu Is The World's Christmas Supply Hub
- Yiwu is a global hub for small commodities and supplies over half the world's Christmas decorations.
- The city's wholesale market serves about 500,000 buyers from 200 countries and contains roughly 50,000 shops.
Traders Learn Languages To Sell Globally
- Traders in Yiwu practice foreign languages like Spanish to serve a global buyer base and boost sales.
- The city's lively trading floors and arcades reflect a spirit of enterprise that supports international trade.
From Open-Air Stalls To Innovation Center
- Ashley Dudarenok describes Yiwu's entrepreneur-driven market and specialization in small commodities like Christmas decor.
- She traces the city's evolution from open-air stalls in the 1980s to a sprawling international trade center and innovation hub.