DeepSeek AI revolutionizes trade at China’s largest wholesale market

Yiwu, a city in the eastern Zhejiang Province known as the "world's capital of small commodities," has a sprawling marketplace offering a vast range of products. Merchants there are leveraging AI-generated multilingual videos to attract international buyers and streamline transactions. Sock vendor Fu Jiangyan and her husband, who sell over 20 million pairs annually across Asia, Africa, and South America, have embraced AI to boost sales. "AI-powered multilingual videos help attract international buyers and simplify transactions," she told China News.

She first experimented with AI last year using a tool integrated with DeepSeek, and her English-language video about a new sock design went viral, quickly selling out the product. Encouraged by this success, she started making videos in multiple languages, significantly increasing sales. She said she can make a translated product introduction video in under 10 minutes. Now she and her husband aim to create one video daily. "Generating fresh content is challenging, but AI tools like DeepSeek make it easier," she said.

DeepSeek logo on a smartphone. Photo by Reuters

Other traders are also leveraging AI. Ren Xiaoling, a seller specializing in cultural and creative products, uses DeepSeek for trend analysis and advertising. "DeepSeek is becoming so widespread that I feel I will fall behind if I don’t learn to use it," she said. "People say Yiwu merchants are hardworking, but in reality, it's because the market changes so fast. We have to keep up with new technologies to stay competitive."

She emphasizes that AI literacy is now essential for all traders to maximize business value. Yiwu merchants have long faced language barriers when dealing with foreign buyers. AI-powered translation tools are now breaking down those obstacles, enabling them to produce promotional videos in dozens of languages. Over the past two years AI has become deeply embedded in Yiwu’s commerce ecosystem, with some vendors now able to communicate in up to 36 languages using AI-assisted services.

DeepSeek is mainly integrated into third-party applications, according to news outlet Ezhejiang. Chinagoods, a major e-commerce platform, has localized DeepSeek technology to serve small businesses. During the 2025 Lunar New Year holidays starting in late January, its AI team integrated DeepSeek into its system, benefiting over 20,000 suppliers by streamlining accessibility.

Lou Qinfeng, technical director of Yiwu China Commodity City, said one of the most popular AI applications among traders is XiaoShang AI Video Creator, which uses DeepSeek’s API. The tool allows vendors to create bilingual product videos by simply recording a short clip and entering a few keywords.

"Currently DeepSeek is integrated with around 10 AI tools covering the entire trade process, from product design to order fulfillment," Lou told English China News Service. "It improves efficiency in ad creation, video production, image design, and multilingual communication."

Yiwu Market in in the eastern Zhejiang Province, China. Photo from Facebook

Beyond translation and video creation, AI tools assist with poster design, product listing, price quotes, and order processing. Some merchants have successfully marketed AI-recommended products, such as Olympic-themed hair clips and false nails. Lou predicted that tools like DeepSeek would enhance global business operations and strengthen the city’s position as a leader in international small commodity trade.

Ouyang Rihui, deputy director of the Institute of Internet Economy at the Central University of Finance and Economics, emphasized AI’s growing role in business. "Large language models will be crucial for intelligent customer service, handling queries, responses, and transactions," he told China News. "Mastering AI will be a key advantage for cross-border merchants."

Despite DeepSeek’s vast potential—Trending on Weibo estimated that only 10% of its capabilities has been explored—its growing adoption has sparked concerns about job displacement.

"Some fear AI will replace workers, but others see it as an opportunity to upgrade skills and work more efficiently alongside technology," the platform noted. "Using DeepSeek effectively requires a mix of intuition and technical skills, making it a crucial tool for those aiming to stay ahead in the digital age."