Hotpot industry flourishes in Chongqing

The hotpot seasoning is on show at the eighth China (Chongqing) International Hotpot Industry Expo. [Photo/WeChat account of Liangjiang New Area]

The eighth China (Chongqing) International Hotpot Industry Expo took place in Liangjiang New Area in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality on Oct 27.

The huge industrial feast lasted for three days, assembling more than 1,000 enterprises in the hotpot industrial chain and showcasing 50,000 types of special hotpot-related products, including hotpot seasoning, pre-made dishes, hotpot utensils and extended services.

The event also featured exhibitor groups from Guangdong, Jiangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, Inner Mongolia, and other places throughout China.

People try hotpot ingredients at the eighth China (Chongqing) International Hotpot Industry Expo. [Photo/WeChat account of Liangjiang New Area]

Agreements for 10 major projects worth 5.3 billion yuan ($738.29 million) were signed at the opening ceremony of the expo, and more than 20 professional activities were held, inviting global industry insiders and food experts to predict the future trends of the hotpot industry.

Chongqing currently boasts 32,000 hotpot restaurants, the most of any city in China. Over the first nine months of this year, the municipality's total retail sales of consumer goods grew by 7.4 percent, with the catering sector represented by hotpot surging by 18.9 percent to 170.2 billion yuan.

The Chongqing government called for the establishment of a unique "33618" modern manufacturing industrial system, listing hotpot ingredients as one of seven major sectors in its food and agricultural product processing industry in June. By 2027, the sector is expected to contribute over 70 billion yuan to local GDP.