China Sourcing Fair: Gifts & Home Products Opened Today in Shanghai

18 October 2005

Global Sources'
(Nasdaq: GSOL) fall China Sourcing Fair: Gifts & Home Products opened today
with a record number of buyers from 154 countries pre-registered to attend --
including buyers from retail giants 3M, Coles Myer, Fuji Xerox, Kmart and Walt
Disney. The Fair runs through Oct. 20, 2005 at Shanghai New International
Expo Centre in Shanghai, China.
(LOGO: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030303/LNM011LOGO-b )
Opening ceremony participants included Dai Liu, deputy director general,
Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination and Zhang Dingguo, general manager
of World Expo Group Shanghai Modern International Exhibition Company Ltd.
Participating buyers included Brookstone and MGB Metro. Leading China
suppliers Dana Limited, Fuzhou Business Window, Guangyong Trading, Hangzhou
Dingming Sporting Goods, and Shanghai Wan Sheng Vacuum Flask and Vessel also
attended the ceremony.
Global Sources chairman and chief executive officer Merle A. Hinrichs
said: ''A record number of buyers have pre-registered to attend this show.
The continued success of the Fairs underscores the fact that trade shows are
the cornerstones of international trade -- for new and established trade
partners alike.
''This Fair is about bringing quality buyers together with quality China
suppliers to maximize trade opportunities in the gifts and houseware sector.''

International demand soars for China-made gifts and household products
Global demand for China-made gifts and houseware is at record highs.
In 2005, China is expected to produce 70 percent of the world's clocks, 55
percent of the world's flatware and 50 percent of the world's radio-controlled
toys. Exports of air-conditioners are expected to top 88 million -- up 30
percent from last year.

Greater China's leading up-and-coming manufacturers to exhibit
The Fair features some of the hottest-selling gifts and houseware
manufactured throughout the region. Exporters from eight countries and
regions will showcase their products in seven major exhibits: gifts; premiums;
toys; stationery; party and holiday products; home living products and outdoor
living products.
Among the hundreds of companies confirmed to exhibit are some of Greater
China's leading suppliers, including Tayohya Home Furnishings, Brico Industry,
Ningbo Toplight International, Chain Wit Corporation and Quanzhou Deyu Arts &
Crafts.
Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea exhibitors will also have a strong presence,
giving buyers even more choice of products from across Asia. The Fair will
also feature a large Thailand pavilion -- three times the size of Thai
pavilions at previous China Sourcing Fair: Gifts & Home Products shows.

Argos, Brookstone, MGB Metro, QVC and Redcats to meet suppliers at Vendor
Summits
Vendor Summits, unique to China Sourcing Fairs, allow buyers to introduce
their companies and outline their sourcing requirements to groups of
pre-selected exhibitors. This saves both parties time and money.
Vendor Summits will be held by leading retailers Argos, Brookstone, MGB
Metro, QVC and Redcats.

WorldWide Retail Exchange to participate in the Fair
Member companies of the WorldWide Retail Exchange (WWRE), which represents
many of the world's largest retailers with total combined annual sales of
US$900 billion, will again participate in the Fair.

Conference speakers include TNT, SGS and Intertek
Conferences at the Fair try to help companies understand and overcome the
challenges of sourcing and exporting in the dynamic China market.
Speakers from TNT International Express, SGS, Intertek, King & Wood Law
Firm and Dezan Shira & Associates will discuss supply chain management, social
accountability, quality assurance, patent protection and how to structure a
buying office in China.

Product Sourcing Forums for household textiles, furniture and household
appliances
Product Sourcing Forums to be held during the fair are designed to give
buyers insight into China supplier capabilities for household textiles,
furniture and small household appliances.
The forums are based on Global Sources' best-selling series of China
Sourcing Reports. Global Sources produces the China Sourcing Reports from
extensive on-site factory visits, interviews and surveys with large, medium
and up-and-coming suppliers throughout mainland China and Taiwan.

Total solution for export marketing
The China Sourcing Fairs are a vital part of Global Sources commitment to
its customers to take as much uncertainty out of global trade as possible.
Global Sources does this by providing buyers with sourcing information in its
monthly magazines and on Global Sources Online throughout the year. The China
Sourcing Fairs play the unique role of bringing buyers from around the globe
together with suppliers for in-person discovery, negotiating and ordering.
For show details, please visit http://www.chinasourcingfair.com .

About Global Sources
Global Sources is a leading business-to-business (B2B) media company and a
primary facilitator of two-way trade with Greater China. It provides sourcing
information to volume buyers and integrated marketing services to suppliers.
The company helps its community of more than 430,000 active buyers to
source more profitably from complex, overseas supply markets. With the goal
of providing as many effective ways as possible to advertise, market and sell,
Global Sources enables suppliers to sell to hard-to-reach buyers in 230
countries.
The company offers the most extensive range of media and export marketing
services in the industries it serves. Suppliers using its four primary
channels -- online marketplaces, magazines, trade shows and direct online
sales -- are supported by its advertising creative, education programs and
online content management applications.
Global Sources delivers information on 1.4 million products and 130,000
suppliers annually through 10 leading online marketplaces and monthly
magazines, more than 80 sourcing research reports, and 15 China Sourcing Fairs
and other trade shows. Global Sources Direct is the company's new initiative
that will help suppliers sell through eBay. Buyers send 4.5 million inquiries
annually to suppliers through Global Sources Online ( http://www.globalsources.com )
alone.
In mainland China, Global Sources has a 24 year track record and 1,300
team members in 44 locations. Its services are backed by 34 years experience
as a trade magazine publisher, 13 years as an organizer of trade shows, and
nine years as an online marketplace operator.

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of Section 27-A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21-E of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The company's actual results
could differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements
as a result of the risks associated with the company's business, changes in
general economic conditions, and changes in the assumptions used in making
such forward-looking statements.

Global Sources Press Contact in Asia:
Camellia So
Tel: +852-2555-5023
Email: cso@globalsources.com

Global Sources Investor Contact in Asia:
Eddie Heng
Tel: +65-6547-2850
Email: eheng@globalsources.com

Global Sources Press Contact in U.S.:
James W.W. Strachan
Tel: +1-602-978-7504
Email: strachan@globalsources.com

Global Sources Investor Contacts in U.S.:
Kirsten Chapman & Moriah Shilton
Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, Inc.
Tel: +1-415-433-3777
Email: kirsten@lhai-sf.com