Canon ranked 224th in the 2012 Global Fortune 500 revenue rankings. In 2011, Canon achieved net sales of 3.5574 trillion yen (approximately US$45.608 billion).

In 1937, Canon, which started with optical technology and aimed to manufacture world-class cameras, was established. Since then, Canon has continued to develop new technologies and developed Japan's first plain paper copier in the early 1970s. In the 1980s, Canon successfully developed bubble inkjet printing technology for the first time and introduced its products to the world. The emphasis and investment in technology research and development has enabled Canon to continue to grow and develop for decades and become a leader in the industry. Canon ranked third in the number of patent registrations in the United States in 2012 published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

In 2003, President Mitarai was hired as the economic consultant of Guangdong Province. In the same year, he was named an honorary citizen by Dalian and Suzhou cities.

Canon already has 12 wholly-owned companies and 4 joint ventures in Dalian, Zhuhai, Suzhou and other places in China, including the US$100 million Canon (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. established in Suzhou New District in 2001. Canon has approximately 35,000 employees in China.

In 1997, Canon (China) Co., Ltd. was established in Beijing and began to be responsible for Canon's investment and all other businesses in China.