Global Sources is a multi-channel O2O trading platform. Its predecessor, Asia Resources, was founded in Hong Kong in 1971 by American Merle Hinrichs and renamed Global Sources in 1999. The company was listed on NASDAQ in 2000 (ticker symbol: GSOL) and was acquired by The Blackstone Group in 2017. Headquartered in Hong Kong, China, Global Sources specializes in B2B international trade online procurement platforms, industry exhibitions, and trade magazines. It provides O2O integrated marketing solutions through online platforms, mobile applications, business matchmaking, procurement live broadcasts, seminars, and global exhibitions. Its flagship platform, GlobalSources.com, is a professional foreign trade platform launched in 1995. Certified by the International Business Daily of the Ministry of Commerce of China as a procurement platform for global high-end buyers, it has served over 14 million registered buyers.
Global Sources regularly hosts large-scale B2B trade exhibitions in Hong Kong. For instance, the October 2025 Hong Kong exhibition was held in three phases, covering fields such as consumer electronics, mobile electronics, smart home, household goods, sports and outdoor activities. It attracted nearly 5,000 suppliers, with nearly 9,000 booths and over 340,000 products on display, drawing more than 120,000 professional visitors. The exhibition attracted suppliers from 19 countries and regions, including Vietnam and South Korea. The 2026 Hong Kong exhibition is scheduled to be held in April. The company has also partnered with the European Product Design Award to establish an innovation award. Its corporate strategy involves innovation, digital transformation, and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance). Sustainable development goals include reducing carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2045