Expoquimia and Equiplast drive the transformation of the industry
The Fira de Barcelona halls coincide from June 2 to 5 with a focus on the major business challenges, which include climate change, energy transition, or an increasingly circular economy that allows waste to be converted into resources
The chemical industry invoices more than 85,000 million euros annually in Spain and leads the country's exports, with foreign sales close to 63,000 million euros, according to data from the Business Federation of the Spanish Chemical Industry (FEIQUE). The plastics industry generates an annual turnover close to 29,000 million euros, equivalent to 2% of the national GDP, according to the latest data from a study promoted by Equiplast.
These are two key sectors for the country's economy. Promoting applied innovation and facing energy, environmental, and competitiveness challenges in an increasingly demanding context are the main challenges of the two reference fairs, Expoquimia and Equiplast, which are held jointly from June 2 to 5 at the Gran Via venue of Fira de Barcelona, with the participation of more than 800 direct exhibitors and 200 knowledge activities.
The Spanish chemical sector is one of the main suppliers of products and technologies for sectors such as agri-food, pharmaceuticals, automotive and mobility, construction, energy, or digital technologies, and reinforces its strategic character in addressing challenges such as climate change or energy transition.
The Spanish plastics industry, for its part, is advancing in its transition towards a circular economy, with the aim of converting waste into a valuable resource for the manufacture of new materials and products in areas such as packaging, construction, automotive, electronics, or textiles.
More than 21,000 visitors
Organized by Fira de Barcelona, Expoquimia and Equiplast will occupy more than 25,000 m² of net area in Halls 2 and 3 of the Gran Via venue, which represents an increase of more than 25% in exhibition space compared to the 2023 edition. Jointly, they expect to attract more than 21,000 professional visitors.
Among the companies present at Expoquimia are leading companies such as Air Liquide, BASF, Bondalti, Bosch Iberia, Carburos Metálicos, Covestro, Marchesini, Messer, Moeve, Quimidroga, Scharlab, Sener and Telstar, among others. In the case of Equiplast, the list of exhibitors includes companies such as AGI, Alimatic, Albis, Ar Sistemas, Arburg, Bada, BMB or Centretècnica, along with many other leading companies in the sector.
Machinery, equipment and technology will play a prominent role in both events, with the exhibition of equipment in operation for automated production processes. Expoquimia will also feature a wide range of raw materials and basic chemicals; analytical, measuring and control instrumentation, and materials and systems for surface treatment. At Equiplast, the offering will be completed with raw materials and additives, molds and dies, semi-finished or finished plastic products, services and recycling solutions.
First-class congress activity
Around 400 speakers, including experts and representatives from companies, academia, technology centers, and sectoral associations, will participate in the scheduled networkings to debate and reflect on the major challenges of chemistry and plastic.
At Expoquimia, the agenda will revolve around the Industry Showcase, with sessions dedicated to decarbonization, circular water management, innovation in materials, and advanced digitalization, including artificial intelligence. This will be complemented by a new edition of Smart Chemistry, the forum promoted by the Spanish Chemical Industry Business Federation (FEIQUE), focused on industrial competitiveness and the role of chemistry in the green transition.
Expoquimia and Equiplast celebrate their long trajectory
- Triennals 60 years and 21 editions, in the case of Expoquimia, and 40 years and 14 editions, in that of Equiplast.
- Gala Dinner The central event of Expoquimia, on June 3rd in the Oval Hall of the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC), will feature over 700 executives and Katja Scharpwinkel, member of the Executive Board of BASF SE and former vice-president of the European chemical employers' association CEFIC, as a speaker.
- Reconeixements Moeve, L'Oréal Groupe, Lefance, and Almirall in the field of chemistry, and SEAT & CUPRA in plastics, will be recognized with the best-in-class award from both trade fairs.
- Guardons The Rethinking Plastic Awards will recognize the most innovative and sustainable products exhibited at the Equiplast showroom, and the Liderpack Awards 2025 will honor packaging and POS displays, organized by Graphispack Associació and Fira de Barcelona's Hispack trade fair.
The program will be completed with the Mediterranean Congress of Chemical Engineering (MeCCE), one of the main scientific forums in the sector in southern Europe, as well as with technical conferences, professional meetings, sessions on international markets and about twenty events organized by companies and sectoral entities.
For its part, Equiplast will launch Rethinking Plastic, a congress with sessions focused on circular economy, recycling, advanced materials and digitalization, with special attention to real cases and good industrial practices. This space will be completed with an exhibition of products made from sustainable plastic, designed to show the diversity of applications of a material with multiple life cycles, and with a networking area aimed at facilitating the exchange of knowledge and the generation of new collaboration opportunities.
