Trade mission to the SIAL Shanghai 2026 exhibition

SIAL Shanghai is Asia’s largest international food and beverage trade fair, organised by Comexposium-Sial Exhibition Co. The 2026 edition is expected to welcome over 5,000 exhibitors from more than 75 countries and regions and attract around 180,000 trade visitors from 125 markets worldwide. Key visitors include importers and wholesalers, agents and distributors, representatives of supermarkets and HoReCa chains, as well as foodservice sector buyers. For Ukrainian producers, this is one of the few platforms where they can hold dozens of direct negotiations with buyers from across Asia over three days within a single event.

China is the world’s largest food importer: the total value of food imports in 2023 exceeded US$140 billion, and the country continues to diversify its supply sources, providing market access to producers from over 51 countries and regions. China’s food and beverage market was valued at US$1.67 trillion in 2023, with projected annual growth of 7.38% between 2024 and 2029. EU agri-food exports to China in 2022 amounted to €15.8 billion, accounting for around 7% of total EU exports to the country — and it is precisely in this segment that there is scope for high-quality products from Ukraine. Promising categories for Ukrainian producers include oils and fats, dairy products, confectionery and chocolate, frozen fruit and vegetables, snack products, as well as food ingredients and concentrates.

Participation in the trade mission to SIAL Shanghai gives manufacturers the opportunity to showcase their products to Chinese and Asian importers and distributors directly at the region’s largest industry event, gain an understanding of market requirements regarding registration, labelling and certification, and assess the competitive landscape and price positioning. Participation in specialised exhibitions and trade missions involving face-to-face meetings with importers is key to success in China — it is precisely this format that allows for establishing initial contacts and moving on to substantive discussions regarding the terms of cooperation. For manufacturers seeking to enter Asian markets, SIAL Shanghai is a strategic starting point.