Turkey Becomes Strategic Hub for Packaging, Welcomes 140 Countries in Four Days

Eurasia Packaging Istanbul Fair, the largest gathering of the packaging industry in the region, once again concluded with record participation this year. Held between 22–25 October 2025 at Tüyap Fair and Congress Center, the event hosted nearly 80,000 visitors in total, including approximately 15,000 international visitors from 140 countries, and more than 1,200 exhibiting companies. Emphasizing that this year's participation once again demonstrated the global strength of Turkey's packaging industry, Zeki Sarıbekir, President of the Packaging Manufacturers Association (ASD), said: “As Turkey's packaging industry, we stand out not only with our production power, but also with our design, engineering and sustainability vision. The strong interest from international businesspeople is turning Turkey into the strategic hub of the region in packaging production.”

Organized in cooperation with RX Tüyap and the Packaging Manufacturers Association (ASD), the fair once again served as a center for trade, design and technology in the packaging industry in its 30th year. For four days, Istanbul became the packaging capital of the world, as exhibiting companies forged new business partnerships, captured export opportunities and showcased sustainable production solutions.

ZEKİ SARIBEKİR: “ONCE AGAIN WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED OUR GLOBAL STRENGTH”

Speaking at the closing of the fair, ASD President Zeki Sarıbekir underlined that this year's participation once again highlighted the global strength of the Turkish packaging industry:

“Over the past 30 years, Eurasia Packaging Istanbul Fair has introduced thousands of Turkish companies to the world. The visitors from 140 countries this year were the clearest indication of the trust placed in Turkey's packaging sector. Today, we differentiate ourselves not only with our production capacity, but also with our design, engineering and sustainability vision. This fair brings Turkey not only trade, but also technology transfer and international prestige. Our exhibitors, who have been participating consistently for 25–30 years, are the most important witnesses and protagonists of this journey.”

This year, the fair was held across 16 halls, covering 51,000 square meters of indoor exhibition space. It showcased a wide range of products from packaging manufacturers to packaging machinery, from food and beverage processing technologies to recyclable materials. Throughout the four days, thousands of B2B meetings were held between domestic and international professionals, resulting in new business connections that will expand the export network of Turkish companies.

Zeki Sarıbekir added: “The meetings held over the four days of the fair generated a business volume strong enough to shape the future of our industry. The interest from international businesspeople is turning Turkey into the strategic center of the region in packaging production.”

“OUR INDUSTRY WILL REACH USD 50 BILLION BY 2030”

Recalling that Turkey's packaging industry achieved exports worth USD 3.5 billion and a current account surplus of USD 1.4 billion in the first six months of 2025, Zeki Sarıbekir noted that the year-end export target is USD 7 billion.

Sarıbekir continued: “Turkey's packaging industry has reached a market size of USD 28 billion. Our target for 2030 is a market worth USD 50 billion and exports of USD 10 billion. To achieve these goals, our manufacturers, designers and machinery producers are working in strong alignment. We believe that the coming period will create new opportunities for packaging industrialists. Tensions in our region are easing, wars are ending, countries are rebuilding and trade channels are reopening. We are confident that our packaging industry will grow with a much stronger momentum in the period ahead.”

FAIR AGENDA: SUSTAINABILITY, GREEN TRANSFORMATION AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY

This year's fair also focused on topics that will shape the future of the packaging industry. In sessions held under the themes of sustainability, digitalization and circular economy, the sector's roadmap was discussed in the context of the European Union's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation and Türkiye's new climate law.

Zeki Sarıbekir underlined: “As the packaging industry, we are among the pioneers of green transformation. Our customers now expect not only durable, but also environmentally friendly products from us. For this reason, we are working to transform the entire value chain from production to design. Our industry is not only an economic driver, but also a key enabler of environmental sustainability.”

30-YEAR JOURNEY: FROM 1,000 SQUARE METERS TO 51,000 SQUARE METERS

Launched in the mid-1990s with just 50 exhibitors over an area of 1,000 square meters, Eurasia Packaging Istanbul Fair has, in its 30th year, become one of the world's most prestigious packaging events. ASD President Zeki Sarıbekir said:

“Today, it is a source of pride for us to see that the modest step taken 30 years ago has evolved into a success story that has carried Turkey's packaging exports to more than 180 countries. Packaging is no longer just a product; it is a tool for value creation. As Turkey's packaging industry continues to carry this value to the world through sustainable growth, Eurasia Packaging Istanbul Fair will remain the most powerful platform of this transformation.”