Thailand’s packaging industry looks to interpack 2026: Connecting innovation, sustainability, and global opportunity

 

Bangkok, 22 October 2025 –  The world’s leading trade fair for processing and packaging — interpack 2026 — will return to Düsseldorf, Germany, from 7 to 13 May 2026, bringing together 2,800 exhibitors from over 60 countries. For Thailand’s dynamic and export-driven packaging and processing sectors, interpack 2026 offers not only a window into the industry’s future but also a powerful platform to connect with global technology, innovation, and partnership opportunities.

 

Today, at a special interpack 2026 Presentation held at Hotel Nikko Bangkok, members of the Thai packaging, converting, and processing community gathered to preview the key trends shaping next year’s exhibition. Jointly organised by Messe Düsseldorf and The Thai Packaging Association, the session featured insights from Thomas Dohse, Global Director of interpack, alongside local industry perspectives led by Wiwat Utsahajit, President of The Thai Packaging Association.

 

A global platform more relevant than ever

interpack 2026 will spotlight the megatrends reshaping the global packaging ecosystem — AI-driven automation, sustainable materials, circular value chains, and future workforce skills. As the world’s leading trade fair for the processing and packaging industries, interpack spans eight key sectors: bakery, beverages, confectionery, cosmetics, food, industrial goods, pharmaceuticals, and non-food products — bringing together the full breadth of the global value chain under one roof.

 

“The packaging and processing industry is evolving faster than ever,” said Thomas Dohse, Global Director of interpack. “interpack 2026 brings the world’s leaders and innovators together to address key challenges — sustainability, efficiency, and digitalisation. For Thai companies, this is the ideal platform to connect with global partners and gain insights that can strengthen competitiveness both regionally and worldwide.”

 

Thailand’s role in a global innovation network

In his opening remarks, Wiwat Utsahajit, President of The Thai Packaging Association, emphasised how Thailand’s packaging sector has evolved into a regional hub known for innovation, adaptability, and collaboration. “Thailand is now recognised as a regional centre serving Southeast Asian and global brands seeking quality, speed, and sustainability. interpack 2026 represents the next step — a truly global platform where technology roadmaps are shaped, sustainability commitments deepened, and partnerships built for the decade ahead.”

 

He noted that Thai manufacturers and converters are already accelerating investment in recyclable and compostable solutions, lightweighting, automation, and AI-enabled quality control — aligning closely with global priorities in circularity and digital transformation.

 

Thai Packaging Industry: Strong momentum and global opportunity

• The Thai packaging market is valued at approximately US$15.7 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach US$19.5 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 4.5%.[i][1]
• The paper packaging segment alone is forecast to expand by nearly 6% annually, driven by e-commerce, food service growth, and sustainability regulations.[2]
• Thailand produced 67 billion packaging units in 2024, with this figure expected to climb to 74 billion units by 2029, led by innovations in rigid plastics, smart labeling, and barrier materials.[3]

 

These trends reaffirm Thailand’s position as one of the region’s most forward-looking packaging economies — one that bridges regional manufacturing excellence with global innovation pipelines.

 

Building on regional success

The interpack 2026 presentation follows the strong momentum of PACK PRINT INTERNATIONAL 2025 — jointly organised by Messe Düsseldorf Asia, The Thai Packaging Association, and The Thai Printing Association — and CorruTec ASIA 2025, organised by Messe Düsseldorf Asia together with the Thai Corrugated Packaging Association, both successfully held in Bangkok in September. Aligned with the global flagship trade fairs drupa and interpack, these exhibitions drew robust participation from leading Thai and international companies, underscoring Thailand’s growing integration within global value chains in printing, packaging, and processing.

 

“Events like PACK PRINT INTERNATIONAL and CorruTec Asia are proof of Thailand’s readiness to engage globally,” added Wiwat Utsahajit. “interpack 2026 is our next opportunity — to learn, collaborate, and showcase Thai excellence to the world.”

 

interpack 2026: What to expect

Across 18 halls, visitors will experience the world’s most comprehensive display of processing and packaging technologies, from food and beverage machinery to pharmaceutical, cosmetic, non-food and industrial packaging systems. Sustainability and digitalisation will be the cross-cutting themes, with leading companies such as Krones, MULTIVAC, Syntegon Technology, IMA Industria Macchine, Marchesini Group, Ishida, ULMA Packaging, and Gerhard Schubert among those confirmed to exhibit.

 

For Thai companies, interpack offers a gateway to global partnerships and the latest insights driving competitiveness, sustainability, and export readiness.

 

The interpack 2026 exhibitor and product database is now live, enabling visitors to explore participating companies, discover innovations, and plan their trade fair experience efficiently. Tickets are now available via the official ticket shop at www.interpack.com, where visitors can also access travel and accommodation options, including hotel services and visitor planning tools such as MyOrganizer and the interpack App.

 

About interpack

Every three years, interpack gathers together the world’s processing & packaging sector in Düsseldorf for one week. Its focus: packaging solutions and packaging materials; packaging machines and the related process technology for the food, beverages, confectionery, baked goods, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, non-food and industrial goods sectors. As an internationally leading trade fair, it draws experts from across the world to exchange ideas about the latest technologies and solutions and provides impetuses for the sector’s future topics. The next interpack will take place in Düsseldorf from 7 to 13 May 2026. Around 2,800 exhibitors from around the world are expected.