Judging by enquiry data on international sourcing platforms, buyer preferences in 2026 concentrate on three directions: multi-functionality, high CRI and clear energy information.
Concretely: dimmable desk lamps with USB charging and motion sensing, outdoor COB rope lights and high-CRI bulbs are the fastest-growing categories. High CRI deserves special attention — once asked mainly for display and retail scenarios, Ra90+ is now a basic expectation among many home buyers, because photography, live-streaming and content creation have made 'true colour' an everyday need.
Energy labels are also moving from an add-on in engineering procurement to a common enquiry item. The share of RFQs that directly ask about efficiency grade and lm/W data has risen visibly. Factories that put efficacy, CRI and energy data in standard spec tables on product pages significantly cut back-and-forth enquiry time.
Source: Alibaba Ranking sourcing trends (ranking.alibaba.com)