Agro Pack & Food Iraq, Iraq plast to Highlight Import Boom
Preparations are in full swing for the highly anticipated 9th edition of Agro Pack & Food Iraq, running concurrently with the 7th edition of Iraq plast from 23–26 November 2026 at the Erbil International Fairground. Following the success of the 2025 event—which attracted 346 exhibitors from 21 countries and over 10,000 buyers—the upcoming event is officially slated to be the largest-ever staging in the country’s history.
Organised by So Fuar and fairtrade, this year’s exhibition serves as Iraq’s premier B2B platform for the rapidly evolving agrofood, plastics, and packaging sectors. The 2026 edition is set to feature more than 340 exhibitors from over 20 countries, all gathering to showcase a comprehensive array of innovative products, technologies, and processing solutions.
As a vital nexus for the region, the four-day exhibition will unite international manufacturers, technical solution providers, and primary decision-makers from across Iraq and the wider Middle East. Attendees can look forward to extensive networking opportunities, live technology demonstrations, and strategic insights designed to drive the future of the regional agrofood, plastics, and packaging supply chains.
Dual-Hall Layout Enhances Event Structure
The overwhelming demand has prompted the organisers to use both halls at the venue to offer attendees a comprehensive and intense experience. The expansion allows for a clearly defined thematic structure and reflects the commitment to delivering an unparalleled event that meets the diverse needs of exhibitors and visitors alike.
Hall 1 will be dedicated to Food Iraq and Agro Iraq, highlighting finished food and beverage (F&B) products, agriculture, crop production, livestock breeding, and poultry.
Hall 2 will have Agro Pack Iraq and Iraq plast focusing on F&B technology, materials, and ingredients, as well as plastic raw materials and machinery for the plastics processing, printing, and packaging industries.
In addition to the host nation, national pavilions from China, India, Iran, Italy, Sri Lanka, Türkiye, and the UAE will also be featured, reinforcing the event’s role as a key driver of industry growth and investment in Iraq.
Third-Largest Arab F&B Tech Importer in Middle East
New data from the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) highlights the rapid growth of Iraq’s agrofood and packaging industries. The country has become the third-largest Arab importer of F&B processing and packaging technology in the Middle East, following Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Between 2018 and 2025, Iraq’s imports of F&B packaging and processing technology increased at an annual rate of 18.8%, growing from €89 million to €298 million. This upward trend is seen as a sign of a political commitment to bolster local production under the ‘Made in Iraq’ initiative.
Recent figures from VDMA and EUROMAP for the period 2020-2025 also indicate Iraq’s rapidly-growing plastics, printing, and packaging sectors. Import of plastics technology increased by 22.9% annually, rising from €25 million to €57 million. Printing and paper technology imports grew by a massive 44% annually, from €13 million to €56 million, while packaging technology imports saw a 14% annual growth rate, from €65 million to €125 million.
Additionally, Iraq’s imports of plastic raw materials have skyrocketed at 21% annual growth from 40 kt in 2011 to 483 kt in 2024. Driven by this surge, per capita plastic consumption in Iraq has grown by 22% annually over the past years, jumping from 0.5 kg in 2009 to 10.2 kg in 2024.
Direct Access to High-Potential Market
The co-located events stand out as an essential gateway to one of the region’s most high-potential markets. With Iraq continuing to invest heavily in food production, processing, packaging, and agricultural infrastructure, the upcoming trade show provides an unmatched venue for international exhibitors. Industry professionals will have direct access to a highly targeted audience of importers, distributors, producers, and government stakeholders actively seeking cutting-edge technologies and global partnerships. The event also provides an opportunity for businesses looking to secure a foothold or expand their footprint in Iraq’s rapidly growing industrial sector.
