With 35% more exhibitors than in 2023, the two trade fairs will host a total of 800 exhibitors in Halls 2 and 3 of the Gran Via venue
Chemicals and plastics join forces to transform industries at Expoquimia and Equiplast
From 2 to 5 June, Expoquimia and Equiplast, leading events for the Spanish chemical and plastics industries, will be held jointly at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue. With 35% more companies than in 2023, the two events will bring together 800 exhibitors and 200 knowledge-sharing and networking activities, featuring 400 experts as speakers. The two trade fairs will highlight the key role of these sectors in an industrial transformation that drives applied innovation and tackles energy, environmental and competitiveness challenges in an increasingly demanding context.
Organised by Fira de Barcelona, Expoquimia and Equiplast will occupy 26,000 square metres of net exhibition space in Halls 2 and 3 of the Gran Via venue, representing a 25% increase in net stand space compared to the 2023 edition. Together, they are expected to attract more than 21,000 trade visitors.
Among the firms exhibiting at Expoquimia are leading companies such as Air Liquide, BASF, Bondalti, Bosch Iberia, Carburos Metálicos, Covestro, Marchesini, Messer, Moeve, Quimidroga, Scharlab, Sener and Telstar, amongst others. In the case of Equiplast, the list of exhibitors includes companies such as AGI, Alimatic, Albis, Ar Sistemas, Arburg, Bada, BMB and Centrotécnica, alongside many other leading companies in the sector.
Machinery, equipment and technology will play a prominent role at both events, with the display of operational equipment for automated production processes. Expoquimia will also feature a wide range of raw materials and basic chemicals; analytical, measurement and control instrumentation; and materials and systems for surface treatment. At Equiplast, the offering will be complemented by raw materials and additives, moulds and dies, semi-finished or finished plastic products, and recycling services and solutions.
Top-class conference programme
Expoquimia and Equiplast will also feature a conference programme with around 200 sessions, focusing on innovation, sustainability and industrial competitiveness. These events will bring together 400 speakers, including experts and representatives from companies, academia, technology centres and industry associations, to discuss and reflect on the major challenges facing the chemical and plastics sectors.
At Expoquimia, the programme will be structured around the Industry Showcase, with sessions dedicated to decarbonisation, circular water management, innovation in materials and advanced digitalisation, 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), focusing on industrial competitiveness and the role of chemistry in the green transition.
The programme will be rounded off by the Mediterranean Congress of Chemical Engineering (MeCCE), one of the sector’s leading scientific forums in southern Europe, as well as technical conferences, professional meetings, sessions on international markets and around twenty events organised by companies and sectoral bodies.
For its part, Equiplast will launch ‘Rethinking Plastic’, a conference featuring sessions focused on the circular economy, recycling, advanced materials and digitalisation, with a particular emphasis on real-world case studies and best industrial practices. This event will be complemented by an exhibition of products made from sustainable plastic, designed to showcase the diversity of applications for a material with multiple life cycles, and a networking area aimed at facilitating the exchange of knowledge and the creation of new opportunities for collaboration.
Gala Dinner: celebration and awards
Expoquimia and Equiplast will also celebrate their history as major triennial industrial events, marking 60 years (21 editions) for Expoquimia and 40 years (14 editions) for Equiplast. The highlight of these celebrations will be the Expoquimia Gala Dinner, to be held on 3 June in the Oval Room of the Museu Nacional d ’Art de Catalunya (MNAC) and will bring together more than 700 executives, industry representatives and institutional leaders. The event will feature a keynote speech by Katja Scharpwinkel, a member of the Executive Board of BASF SE and former Vice-President of the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC).
Within this framework, the best-in-class awards for both fairs will be presented, recognising Moeve, L’Oréal Groupe, Lefance and Almirall in the field of chemistry, and SEAT & CUPRA in the field of plastics, highlighting industrial excellence, innovation and sustainability.
During the fairs, other awards will be presented, including the Rethinking Plastic Awards, which will recognise the most innovative and sustainable products exhibited in the Equiplast showroom, and the Liderpack 2025 Awards for packaging and point-of-sale displays, organised by Graphispack Association and the Hispack fair at Fira de Barcelona. Furthermore, to mark their anniversaries, both fairs will pay a special tribute to the companies, organisations and professionals who have accompanied them on their journey.
Key sectors for the Spanish economy
The joint celebration of Expoquimia and Equiplast will provide a snapshot of two transversal and strategic industries for the Spanish economy. The chemical industry in Spain has an annual turnover of over €85 billion and leads the country’s exports, with overseas sales of nearly €63 billion, according to data from the Spanish Chemical Industry Business Federation (FEIQUE).
Its role as a supplier of products and technologies to sectors such as agri-food, pharmaceuticals, automotive and mobility, construction, energy and digital technologies reinforces its strategic importance in addressing challenges such as climate change and the energy transition.
The Spanish plastics industry, for its part, generates an annual turnover of around €29 billion, equivalent to 2% of the national GDP, according to the latest data from a study commissioned by Equiplast. The sector is advancing in its transition towards the circular economy, with the aim of turning waste into a valuable resource for the manufacture of new materials and products in areas such as packaging, construction, automotive, electronics or textiles.
Barcelona, May 2026