The Spanish packaging industry is growing and reaches record levels in turnover, showing great strength and dynamism as a necessary sector for the real economy. With a turnover of 40,409 million euros, the packaging industry has increased its turnover by 22% and the number of companies by 8.3% to 3,447, according to the study presented by Fira de Barcelona’s Hispack show, which will be held from 7 to 10 May at the Gran Via venue.

Under the title ‘Packaging in Spain, the power of an industry committed to sustainability’, the Hispack 2024 report – produced by the consultancy firm MarketAAD – updates its last edition, published in 2022, comprehensively mapping the sector and pointing out the key magnitudes and lines of development in which its companies are working. The report confirms the strength of this industry in a complex geopolitical and economic context marked by restrictions on certain raw materials, energy prices, high inflation, and the latest regulatory changes aimed at increasing the contribution of packaging to sustainable development.

In this sense, the Spanish packaging industry has increased by 8.3% the number of companies, reaching 3,447 companies, 90% of which are SMEs. It also provides 118,500 jobs, 5.12% of employment in the industrial sector.

By subsectors of activity, the largest number of firms belong to manufacturers of packaging and plastic materials (900), followed by paper and cardboard (710), packaging machinery (615), wooden packaging (702) and manufacturers of labelling, coding and marking equipment (301). The list is completed with manufacturers of metal packaging (165); glass (40); cork stoppers (12); and other materials (2).

In terms of geographical distribution, Catalonia accounts for almost 30% of the companies, with an additional 40% distributed between Valencia (18%), Madrid (10.31%), Andalusia, which is experiencing strong growth, reaching 9.72%, and Murcia (6.3%).

Record business

The report also maps the sector’s business growth. The rising market demand for sustainable packaging has helped to increase the turnover of paper and cardboard companies by 24.4%, which in turn lead the industry with 13,441 million euros. Plastic packaging companies are second with a stable turnover of 9,592 million euros and behind them is packaging machinery, whose turnover increased by 12.32% to 4,629 million euros, encouraged by the commitment to transformation and digitisation of these companies.

The remaining specialties also recorded notable increases in turnover: the labelling, coding and marking sector reached 3,395 million euros, up 11.6%; the wooden packaging sector 3,292 million (+24.7%), metal packaging, 3,259 million euros (+27.9%) and glass, 2,478 million euros (+25.7%).

Almost 69% of Spanish packaging companies have a turnover of less than 5 million euros, 21% between 5 and 25 million euros, and only 10% exceed the latter figure. Altogether, the profitability levels of packaging firms are positive in all turnover brackets.

The regions with the highest turnover in the packaging sector are Catalonia (10,216 million euros), Madrid (6,635 million euros), Valencia (5,337 million euros), Aragon (3,286 million euros) and the Basque Country (3,105 million euros).

More packaging, more sustainable

The Hispack 2024 report also tackles the sustainable development of the packaging industry. In this sense, it points out that, although the challenge of sustainability is not new, it is more of a priority for companies due to the latest regulatory changes and the greater awareness of consumers who demand more environmentally friendly packaging.

Therefore, among the main reasons for the rise of the sector reflected on this study feature the necessary transformation towards the sustainability of packaging, the automation and digitisation of the industry, the post-pandemic economic recovery of different productive sectors with growing demand for packaging, and the unstoppable growth of e-commerce that is tied to new packaging and logistics demands.

The study highlights that the sector is ready to respond to all industries that demand solutions with less environmental impact and seek to adapt to the latest regulatory changes which, among other measures, encourage recycling and reuse within the framework of the circular economy, apply a special tax on non-reusable plastic packaging or target creating new collective systems of extended responsibility for commercial and industrial packaging.

Therefore, companies continue to innovate both in terms of materials and circularity solutions, and in this sense, the main trends include the use of mono-materials, more recycled plastic and biodegradable raw materials, as well as the promotion of recyclability and reusability of packaging and the application of life cycle analysis formulas for each product to adapt the solution with the lowest possible environmental impact.

Digital transformation is also among the major challenges facing the sector, on which most companies are working. In this line, companies in the packaging machinery sector invest 3.7% of their turnover in R&D, mainly to promote digitalisation to increase sustainability with automated and energy-efficient equipment capable of working with new materials. Accordingly, the sector is incorporating and offering Industry 4.0 technologies to link packaging and its associated processes with the entire supply chain, real-time information on manufacturing and logistics processes, product traceability and intelligent and connected packaging solutions.

Hispack 2024

The sector’s momentum will be reflected at Hispack 2024, held from May 7 to 10 at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue. The leading event for the packaging industry in Spain and one of the first in Europe in its speciality will also grow by 18% in this edition and will bring together 800 exhibitors from 28 countries and 1,250 brands, which will showcase the latest solutions and innovations of the most digital and sustainable packaging industry. The show expects to attract more than 27,000 visitors, 10% of which international.

Hispack wil spread over halls 2 and 3 of the Gran Via venue and will feature the leading manufacturers and distributors of packaging technology, materials and solutions, taking into account their entire life cycle and their connections with other production processes and the supply chain. 60% of Hispack’s commercial offer corresponds to equipment and machinery for packaging, bottling, labelling, coding, traceability, process, automation, robotics and logistics. The remaining 40% of exhibitors focus on materials, POS and specific packaging elements for different industrial and consumer sectors, as well as distribution, e-commerce and retail.

With 32% of international exhibitors from countries such as Turkey, Italy, China, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United Kingdom; and the arrival of professional visitors and buyers from all over the world, Hispack strengthens its position as an essential event for opening up markets and new business opportunities for Spanish companies in the sector.

Barcelona, April 26th 2024

Images Presentation Report in Barcelona (24-04-2024) here

Images Presentation Report in Madrid (25-04-2024) here

Maria Dolores Herranz
Tel. +34 93 233 25 41
[email protected]

Hispack 2024 will focus on sustainable packaging to contribute to a better future. From May 7 to 10, Spain’s largest packaging trade show will bring together more than 800 exhibitors from 28 countries and 1,250 brands at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue with the latest innovations in materials, packaging, containers, labels, wrapping, as well as processing and logistics technology and machinery adapted to the new regulatory framework of the circular economy.

Organized by Fira de Barcelona in collaboration with Graphispack Association, Hispack is growing this year by 18% in number of companies and 12% in exhibition space, mirroring the momentum of the packaging industry, which has an annual turnover of more than 40,400 million euros in Spain, according to a report by MarketAAD for the event.

This way, Hispack will spread over 36,000m2 net in halls 2 and 3 with leading manufacturers and distributors showcasing technology, materials and packaging solutions, with sustainability as the cornerstone. It will also display the life cycle of packaging and its links with other production processes and the supply chain. This year there has also been an increase in international exhibitors, with almost a third of the total number coming from outside Spain. Turkey brings the largest number of companies, followed by Italy, China, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United Kingdom.

60% of Hispack’s commercial offer corresponds to equipment and machinery for packaging, bottling, labelling, coding, traceability, process, automation, robotics and logistics. The remaining 40% of exhibitors focus on materials, POS and specific packaging elements for different industrial and consumer sectors, as well as distribution, e-commerce and retail.

The President of Hispack’s organizing committee, Jordi Bernabeu, underlines the growing interest in the event this year as a showcase for trends and solutions in view of the need to adapt packaging to the new regulatory framework: “manufacturers and brands, mainly in the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical sectors, among others, are increasingly demanding sustainable packaging solutions in response to greater environmental awareness and commitment and also to meet the objective set by the regulations for all packaging to be recyclable or reusable by 2030”.

Trends at the show

Sustainable packaging seeks to minimize environmental impact through eco-design focused on the reduction of materials, recycling, and reuse, as well as through the analysis of the life cycle of packaging from production to disposal. Also, with a greater use of recycled or biodegradable materials, with the deployment of smart packaging that improves supply chain efficiency, traceability, and consumer experience, and with an overhaul of production processes  aimed at reducing the carbon footprint. In this sense, automation, robotics and artificial intelligence combine to drive the digital transformation and sustainability of packaging.

All of this will be clear both in Hispack’s exhibition floorspace and in its more than 80 knowledge and networking activities in which over 150 speakers will take part. The ‘Hispack Unboxing’ space stands out with a program of conferences, roundtables, and presentations, in which representatives from food and beverage, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, textile and construction companies will explain their experiences in sustainable packaging, together with organizations, technology centres, clusters and suppliers of technology and materials. Among the speakers feature the packaging and sustainability managers from brands such as Almirall, Calidad Pascual, García Carrión, El Corte Inglés, Nauterra and Shiseido.

The Director of Hispack, Xavier Pascual, emphasizes the value of the knowledge shared at the fair: “we bring together suppliers and clients to explain achievements and experiences that help other companies to improve the sustainability of their packaging.”

New initiatives

In addition, Hispack is also launching the “Engineers Day”, an initiative by Enginyers Industrials de Catalunya (EIC) aimed at professionals with technical and engineering profiles involved in production processes, R&D, operations and the supply chain, with talks on automation and robotics applied to intralogistics and other networking activities.

Also new are the ten themed routes around the show aimed at discovering creative and innovative materials and packaging, making packaging circular, or the latest in intralogistics, sustainable packaging technologies or plastic packaging, industry 4.0 in the packaging sector and smart packaging.

In parallel, under the title “Best in class”, Hispack will acknowledge three international success stories with packaging sustainability as protagonist. The Danish city of Aarhus has created a municipal circular system for the collection, washing and reuse of beverage and take-away food packaging. The Japanese firm Kao Corporation, with an innovative system to recycle plastic refill containers and make new containers. And AMITA Corporation’s project to use blockchain technology to trace plastic bottle cap recycling.

Along these lines, Hispack will promote Japan as a high-potential market in collaboration with the Japan Packaging Institute showcasing trends and experiences carried out in Japan, as well as enabling business contacts or collaboration with the Japanese delegation attending the fair.

The program is completed with other guest events organized by entities such as the Spanish Association of Purchasing, Contracting and Procurement Professionals (AERCE), the Spanish Plastics Centre (CEP) and Amec, the Beauty Cluster and the Packaging Cluster, the Spanish Logistics Centre (CEL), and the Graphispack Association.

Export opportunities

On the other hand, Hispack will contribute to the international projection of Spanish packaging technology and solutions to promote exports. Through its “Hosted buyers” program, the show has invited one hundred professionals with specific projects and import capacity, mainly from Tunisia, Morocco, Poland and Mexico, target markets for Spanish packaging companies due to their growth potential. It is estimated that over 800 meetings and presentations will be scheduled over four days with these buyers.

In addition, all international visitors will receive tailor-made advice and activities at Hispack’s International Business Centre where they will discover, through presentations, the success stories of a dozen Spanish packaging technology suppliers. There will also be a Brokerage Event, with quick business interviews aimed at finding suppliers ot collaborators.

Finally, Hispack will host the presentation of the Liderpack 2023 Awards, the most important awards for Packaging and Point-of-Sale Advertising (POS) in Spain. The 45 winners will be on display at the show. The Packaging Party will also be held and there will be a ceremony to honour some thirty companies, organizations and individuals for their achievements in the packaging sector.

Hispack 2024 expects to attract more than 27,000 visitors, 10% of them international.

Barcelona, April 29th  2024

More than ever, Hispack 2024 will be the benchmark event for international companies in the packaging, processing and logistics industry to discover the business opportunities offered by the Spanish market and make contact with new customers. More than 250 foreign firms are part of the wide range of exhibitors at a year that, with more than 720 exhibitors from 28 countries and 1,250 brands represented, reaffirms the event as the leader in the packaging sector in Spain and one of the first in Europe in its speciality.

This year, the participation of international firms in Hispack, which will be held from 7 to 10 May at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue, has increased by five percentage points compared to 2022. The recovery of the Chinese exhibitor after the pandemic, the strong growth of the Italian presence and the entry of new countries to the list are behind this increase in the international offer, which now accounts for 30% of the total.

Turkey is the foreign country with the most exhibitors (62), followed by Italy (39), China (31), Germany (23), France (16), the Netherlands (9), Portugal (8) and the United Kingdom (6). The list of exhibitors also includes companies from Poland, Belgium, USA, Egypt, Greece, Morocco, Algeria, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Slovenia, Finland, Malaysia, Mexico, Japan, Latvia, Taiwan, San Marino and Singapore.

Sixty per cent of Hispack’s offerings are in processing equipment and machinery, packaging, bottling, packaging manufacturing, coding, labelling and marking, automation, robotics and logistics. The remaining 40% of exhibitors present raw materials and materials for packaging, containers and packaging and POS elements for various industrial and consumer sectors, as well as for distribution, e-commerce and retail.

Hispack director Xavier Pascual underlines: “The opportunities of the Spanish market and its continuous growth rates are the main attractions for international companies participating in Hispack in search of new customers, as well as the connection of the fair with Latin America and the Mediterranean countries due to language and geographic proximity respectively”.

Visitors with purchasing power
Among the international visitors, the number of professionals from Portugal stands out, which positions the Barcelona trade fair as a benchmark for the packaging sector in the Iberian market. In addition to executives with purchasing power, Hispack is visited by technical profiles from the factory and production areas, as well as the purchasing, R&D, sustainability, marketing and operations departments of manufacturers, packagers and brands in the food and beverage, cosmetics and perfumery, pharmaceutical, automotive and consumer electronics sectors.

Hispack is also visited by professionals from other European countries, mainly Italy, France, Germany and the United Kingdom, as well as Latin America and the Mediterranean area. These are highly qualified professionals with specific investment projects interested in learning about Spanish suppliers who develop packaging, process and logistics materials and equipment that stand out for their competitiveness, flexibility, high quality standards, innovation and excellent after-sales service to ensure the best results. Spain is among the world’s top ten exporters of packaging technology.

This year, as a novelty, in addition to promoting itself in traditional foreign markets, Hispack will focus its programme of invited international buyers on Mexico, Poland, Morocco and Tunisia, four countries of interest for Spanish exports due to their growth potential.

In parallel, Hispack will present Japan as an opportunity market for the European packaging industry. In this sense, it will host the visit of a Japanese delegation and will dedicate 9 May to showcasing success stories and promoting networking between European and Japanese companies with a view to activating channels for information exchange and international cooperation.

Activities for the international public
Finally, Hispack will set up the International Business Centre (IBC) in Hall 3 of the Gran Via exhibition centre as a reception point for the international public with specific services and its own agenda of activities to enhance the visitor experience.

At the IBC, international visitors will be able to receive personalised advice on the most suitable Spanish suppliers to develop their projects; attend conferences on potential markets (Mexico, Poland, Tunisia, Morocco and Japan) and the presentation of success stories of Spanish manufacturers as part of the “Why Spanish Solutions” campaign promoted by Hispack together with Amec.

This space will also allow them to hold business interviews with exhibitors; access a Brokerage Event with quick meetings to find suppliers, collaborators or exchange experiences; and make thematic guided routes around the fair, among other proposals.

Barcelona, March 2024

Hispack puts the radar on Mexico, Poland, Morocco and Tunisia to select and attract professionals from these countries with the capacity to import Spanish packaging technology and solutions. With this action, the Fira de Barcelona trade show aims to promote more than 800 business meetings between visitors from these markets and Spanish suppliers of packaging equipment, machinery and materials participating in Hispack, which will be held from 7 to 10 May.

In collaboration with Amec-Envasgraf, Hispack 2024 is rolling out its international promotion plan, focusing on attracting highly qualified profiles. As in previous editions, the Barcelona trade show continues to promote itself in Europe, the Mediterranean and Latin America, the traditional geographical areas of origin of most of the international visitors expected. In addition, and as a novelty, this year Hispack is focusing selectively on Mexico, Poland, Morocco and Tunisia, countries where exports by Spanish packaging technology and materials manufacturers have ample potential for growth.

Specifically, the focus is on two large and medium-sized markets such as Mexico and Poland, which currently rank fifth and tenth respectively as a destination for Spanish packaging technology exports, with sales of 28.3 million euros in Mexico and 17.7 million euros in Central Europe in 2023. At the same time, Morocco (10 million euros) and Tunisia (3 million euros) were added with more modest sales figures for the sector last year, due to their proximity and an important opportunity factor.

Hosted Buyers Programme
Among the actions being carried out, the “Hosted Buyers” programme is particularly noteworthy. Registrations are open until 30 March, through which professionals with specific investment projects in packaging solutions will be selected, mainly from these four priority markets. The organisation will also consider incorporating professionals from Chile (guest country at Hispack 2022), Japan (this year’s prospective market) and other countries into this programme, depending on the investment forecast presented by the candidates.

This group of guests will be provided with an optimal experience for the generation of business opportunities at Hispack 2024, with an exclusive programme of networking and scheduled business meetings, which will take place at the fair’s International Business Center (IBC), located in Pavilion 3 of the Gran Via venue at Fira de Barcelona.

IBC, the hub of international activity
In order to improve the visiting experience for international professionals, Hispack is expanding the IBC as a reception point for this public, with specific services and its own agenda of activities.

At the IBC, international visitors will be able to receive personalised advice on the most suitable Spanish suppliers to develop their projects; attend conferences on markets and the presentation of success stories of Spanish manufacturers; hold interviews with exhibitors; participate in a business meeting (Brokerage Event) with quick meetings to find suppliers, collaborators or exchange experiences; register for technical training courses or guided thematic visits, among other proposals.

Japan Day
Finally, in this edition Hispack will present Japan as a market opportunity for Spanish packaging, activating avenues of industrial cooperation between supply and demand companies from both countries, and generating shared knowledge on innovation and trends, especially linked to digitisation and sustainability. In this sense, the IBC will host on 9 May the “Japan Day”, a day with several success stories and networking sessions.

This year, Hispack is growing in size and company participation and will be much more representative of the entire packaging value chain, including processing and logistics. More than 720 exhibitors from over 20 countries and 1,250 brands will be represented in Halls 2 and 3 of the Gran Via venue at Fira de Barcelona. More than 27,000 professionals are expected to visit, 10% of them international.

Barcelona, March 2024

From 7 to 10 May, Hispack, the major Spanish packaging, process and logistics trade fair, will be held at Fira de Barcelona growing in size and company participation. All industrial sectors, end brands, distribution and retail will find tailor-made solutions in equipment and technology for processing, bottling, packaging, logistics and handling of all kind of products. Also, raw materials, coding and labelling systems, as well as containers and packaging with which to respond especially to the challenge of sustainability. Hispack’s director, Xavier Pascual, gives us a preview of what this year’s fair will be like.

Hispack is growing again, bringing together a highly representative range of the Spanish packaging industry with the presence of the leading companies. What are the key figures for this year’s edition?

We expect to bring together more than 720 direct exhibitors and 1,250 brands represented, occupying some 36,000m2 net space in the Gran Via venue. This year Hispack will grow by 26% in exhibitors and 12% in space compared to 2022, reflecting the good momentum and strength of the Spanish packaging industry. It is worth noting that 31% of the companies are participating in Hispack for the first time. We also have exhibitors from 28 countries. Almost a third of our exhibitors are international. After Spain, Turkey, Italy, Germany, China and France are the countries with the most exhibitors at Hispack.

What is the target in terms of visitor numbers?

We expect to attract more than 27,000 visitors to the trade show. The good pace of accreditations so far confirms that visitors are very keen to come to Hispack. However, in this section, we have set ourselves qualitative objectives rather than figures. Above all, we want to build loyalty among professionals who already know Hispack because they have come to previous editions. And at the same time, we aim to increase the number of visitors from companies using packaging solutions from different Spanish regions – including many SMEs – that are relevant in terms of turnover and have never attended the trade show before. In this way, we are seeking to broaden the Spanish coverage, the scope and the qualitative profile of our visitors. On an international level, we expect 10% of visitors to come from foreign markets.

What can be found in the commercial offer of Hispack?

Hispack is an industrial trade show. Some 60% of its offer corresponds to process and packaging machinery in operation, bottling lines, coding and labelling systems, as well as customisable automation, robotics and logistics solutions for different sectors. There is also a very large participation (representing 40% of the exhibitors at the fair) of companies with solutions for secondary and tertiary packaging of industrial products that make the supply chain more efficient, as well as raw materials, innovations, primary packaging, cartons, closure systems, dosing or POS elements for different sectors such as food, beverages, cosmetics and perfumery, pharmaceuticals, automotive, construction, chemicals, drugstores, distribution, retail or online commerce. Any solution related to packaging is at Hispack, especially at a time when brands and manufacturers are seeking to improve sustainability in order to reduce the environmental impact of their products’ packaging.

What is the profile of the Hispack visitor?

The cross-disciplinary nature of packaging, as a discipline that touches on different areas within the same company, is reflected in the diversity of professional profiles that visit Hispack. In addition to management positions, professionals from the purchasing, R&D, quality, sustainability, marketing, logistics and operations departments come to Hispack. A high percentage are technicians from the factory and production areas. Designers, advertisers, printers, representatives of large-scale distribution, retailers… All sectors are represented. The food and beverage industry stands out in particular, as it is the main consumer of packaging. But it is also very important, for example, the attendance of companies and brands from cosmetics and perfumery, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, automotive and consumer electronics, among others.

What would you say is the differential value of Hispack?

Its leadership and complete coverage of the packaging market, with a quality commercial offer and the presence of leading brands. Also, its wide range of national and international visitors. For all these reasons, Hispack is a key meeting point for the Spanish packaging sector, generating fruitful business opportunities, numerous commercial and collaborative contacts, and a valuable exchange of information that facilitates knowledge and understanding of the current state of packaging, which is marked by regulatory changes, sustainability and digitalisation.

What’s new this year?

More networking spaces, a more personalised agenda of activities depending on the different professional profiles attending the fair, and a specific programme of attention for international visitors with the aim of highlighting Spanish packaging solutions and technology to help boost exports. At this point, we are going to explain success stories of Spanish manufacturers of packaging machinery and materials to invited buyers and international visitors to Hispack accompanied by customers who have implemented these solutions and who can narrate in first person the results obtained. As a complement, we organise a Brokerage Event where exhibitors and visitors, both national and international, can interact and generate business opportunities through short meetings, previously scheduled through an online platform available on our website.

What would you highlight from the programme of activities? Have new spaces or initiatives been added compared to the 2022 edition?

We will once again have the “Unboxing” knowledge space with around 40 talks that focus on the subject of sustainability. We are repeating the “Best in class” programme, which will recognise four international companies that are successful in transforming products and processes through packaging. Among them, there will be two Japanese companies, as this year we want to explore Japan as an opportunity market for European packaging. In this sense, as a novelty, we will dedicate one day to getting to know the Japanese packaging industry, activating channels for information exchange and industrial cooperation between supply and demand companies. We are also launching the “Engineers Day”, an exclusive day with conferences and networking opportunities for engineering professionals, an essential group in the packaging industry. There will also be conferences and activities organised by associations and organisations and we will offer visitors themed routes on circularity, design and automation to showcase and explain the innovations presented in these areas. Finally, we will be presenting the Liderpack Awards and we will once again be holding the Packaging Party, open to all exhibitors and visitors.

Sustainability is the main driver of innovation in the packaging industry. How is the demand for solutions from user sectors?

The boom in demand for sustainable packaging solutions is increasing exponentially across all industries. The latest regulatory changes that impact on packaging mean that companies have to adapt their packaging more quickly to the new requirements framed in the paradigm of the circular economy. It is true that there are different rates of adaptation depending on the size of the companies. However, the packaging industry has been innovating for years to achieve important achievements in the field of sustainability that are now a reality. For example, in the area of new raw materials, use of materials (reduction, recycling, reuse), in eco-design, in more efficient manufacturing and distribution processes, in waste management, in the analysis of the entire product life cycle to implement the most sustainable packaging solution. And all of this will be on display at Hispack.

Finally, what is your assessment of the current situation of the Spanish packaging industry?

On the occasion of Hispack, we are updating the economic report on the Spanish packaging industry, which offers us an excellent snapshot of the sector. The increases in the number of companies and in turnover over the last two years confirm the excellent health and economic importance that the packaging industry is acquiring in practically all manufacturing and commercial activities. We have also noted a favourable business climate, which is committed to investment in innovation and digitisation, and which points to good growth prospects for this year.