“THAIFEX - ANUGA ASIA 2026” Set to Return on a Grander Scale Across IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, Reinforcing Its Position as a Global Food Trade Platform

The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Ministry of Commerce, in

collaboration with the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) and Koelnmesse (KM), has

announced the return of THAIFEX - ANUGA ASIA 2026, Asia’s most comprehensive food and

beverage trade exhibition, taking place from 26–30 May 2026 at IMPACT Muang Thong

Thani, Bangkok. Returning under the theme “BIGGER - BETTER - BOLDER”, this year’s

edition will welcome food buyers and importers from more than 130 countries worldwide.

The event is expected to generate over THB 130 billion in trade value, further reinforcing

its role as a leading international food trade platform while supporting Thailand’s ambition

to become a global food trading hub.

Ms. Sunanta Kangvalkulkij, Director-General of the Department of International Trade

Promotion, stated that regions around the world are playing increasingly significant roles in

global trade, leading to the restructuring of supply chains and driving major changes across the

food industry. Rising costs have compelled entrepreneurs to strengthen risk management

strategies and seek new sources of raw materials, while food security has become an

increasingly important priority for many countries amid growing demand for a wider variety of

food products. At the same time, the competitive landscape has evolved beyond price alone,

with greater emphasis now placed on quality, standards, safety, credibility, and traceability,

alongside emerging regulations and requirements such as ESG principles, which are becoming

mandatory conditions in international trade.

In the context of today’s rapidly evolving and increasingly complex global trade landscape,

THAIFEX – ANUGA ASIA is more than just an exhibition platform; it serves as a stage for

showcasing the capabilities of Thai entrepreneurs, driving the country’s exports, and creating

new business opportunities for businesses of all sizes. Over the past three decades, the event

has consistently received strong support from exhibitors and buyers worldwide, while

continuously evolving alongside the industry itself. This year, the organisers have jointly

elevated the event under the theme “BIGGER - BETTER - BOLDER,” making it greater in scale,

stronger in quality, and more distinctive in every dimension — enabling participants to maximise

opportunities for business networking, discover new prospects, and further expand their growth

in the global market.

“The strength of the event lies in its position as a comprehensive food and beverage trade

exhibition with a significant role in the Asian region, bringing together products, innovations,

and buyers from around the world in one place. This creates opportunities for business

negotiations, networking, and long-term partnerships. This year, the exhibition will feature

nearly 3,600 exhibitors across more than 6,700 booths from 56 countries and regions,

representing businesses from key regions worldwide, including Asia, Europe, the United

States, Latin America, and Africa. The event is expected to attract more than 90,000

visitors from over 130 countries, with projected trade orders exceeding THB 130 billion.

This will further reinforce the exhibition’s role as a major international food trade platform of

strategic importance both in Asia and globally, while supporting the government’s policy of

positioning Thailand as a global food trading hub,” said Ms. Sunanta

Ms.Sunanta added that this year’s edition will be larger than ever, with expanded exhibition

space extending to IMPACT Forum Hall 4, bringing the total exhibition area to 140,000 square

metres. The additional space will accommodate a wider range of products and innovations

across nine key sectors: Drinks, Fine Food, Food Technology, Frozen Food, Fruits & Vegetables,

Meat, Rice, Seafood, and Sweets & Confectionery. Each sector will feature a diverse range of

offerings, including products for general consumers, halal food, organic products, health food,

specialised nutrition, future food, and sustainable food innovations among others.

In addition to food, beverages, and food technology, visitors will be able to explore a wide

range of engaging activities and special showcases. One of the key highlights this year is the

Thai fruit exhibition under the concept “THAILAND: The Land of Tropical Fruits”, which

presents innovative ways of enjoying Thai fruits in both fresh and processed forms to meet

the lifestyles of modern consumers. The showcase will also feature winners of the Agri-

Export Star Pitching Challenge, presented by Mrs. Suphajee Suthumpun, Deputy Prime

Minister and Minister of Commerce, reflecting Thailand’s strong capabilities in agricultural

product quality and product development.

Dr. Kitsana Vachekrilas, Vice Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, stated that the

Thai Chamber of Commerce aims to make the event an effective business matching platform,

enabling SMEs, start-ups, and large corporations to connect with importers, buyers, and

business partners from around the world. This year, more than 1,300 Thai companies will

participate in the exhibition across over 3,500 booths.

“We aim to support Thai entrepreneurs at every level, from SMEs and large corporations to

start-ups, by providing opportunities to introduce their products and services to both domestic

and international markets while connecting with high-potential importers and buyers. At the

same time, the Thai Chamber of Commerce has a nationwide network of more than 250,000

business members, which will help strengthen meaningful business connections and further

drive the growth of Thailand’s food industry. Today, Thailand’s food and beverage industry is

internationally recognised, with the country currently ranked as the world’s 15th largest food

exporter. However, our goal is to elevate Thailand into one of the world’s top 10 food-exporting

countries in the future, in line with the ‘Thai Kitchen to the World’ policy,” said Dr Krisana.

Dr. Kitsana added that THAIFEX – ANUGA ASIA serves as a platform where entrepreneurs can

directly showcase products aligned with global trends, including processed food, future food

such as plant-based products, and sustainability-focused products such as zero-waste solutions,

biodegradable packaging, and organic-certified products. The exhibition will also feature

functional food, health food, probiotics, and Thai herbal products. Driven by innovation, these

products are expected to attract new buyer segments while creating opportunities for business

negotiations, export expansion, and accelerated growth.

Mr. Mathias Kuepper, Managing Director & Regional President Asia Pacific, Koelnmesse,

stated that this year’s edition will place a strong focus on innovation, sourcing, and market

direction, particularly within the newly expanded IMPACT Forum Hall 4. Buyers will gain access

to new products, emerging brands, and evolving sourcing opportunities within a concentrated

space.

Among the key highlights is Future Food Experience+, focusing on areas such as supply chain

sustainability, AI-driven food production, and new retail formats. The Startup Showcase gives

buyers early access to brands before wider distribution, while the tasteInnovation Show

presents the finalists and winners of the exhibition’s most innovative products. Alongside this,

the Trend Zone, developed with Innova Market Insights, provides additional context on the

trends shaping product development and buying behaviour across the industry.

The event will also feature the Alternative Protein Taste and Flavour Challenge and the

Thailand Ultimate Chef Challenge, allowing buyers to experience how products perform in real-

world culinary applications. New special highlights introduced this year include Taste the

Future, where innovative ingredients from across the exhibition are transformed into curated

tasting menus, and New-to-Market Street, featuring products launched within the past 12

months.

Mr. Kuepper added that this year’s edition will welcome new international exhibitors from

countries including Armenia, Finland, Georgia, Lebanon, and Mongolia, while Argentina,

Belgium, Chile (Seafood sector), Italy, Saudi Arabia, Spain and Uzbekistan will expand their

presence through national pavilions. More than 50% of buyers participating in the Hosted Buyers

Programme will also be first-time attendees this year, including confirmed buyers such as NTUC

FairPrice, City Mart Holding, Korea Seven, and Big C.

THAIFEX - ANUGA ASIA 2026 will take place at IMPACT Challenger Halls 1–3, IMPACT Forum Hall

4, and IMPACT Exhibition Centre Halls 5–12 at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani. Trade days will be

held from 26–29 May 2026, 10:00–18:00 hrs, while the trade and public day will take place on

30 May 2026, 10:00–18:00 hrs. Visitors may pre-register at: https://registration.thaifex-

anuga.com/s/OAlRMg