The 37th International Exhibition for Fine and Specialty Chemicals concluded last week at Messe Düsseldorf in Germany. The event welcomed 404 exhibitors from 27 countries, showcasing their innovative substances and bespoke solutions across a record net exhibition space of 7,627m². The show saw a 9.4% increase in visitor numbers compared to last year’s edition, attracting a total of 4,548 trade visitors from 72 countries.
“Chemspec Europe was a resounding success, underscoring its critical role in supporting the fine and specialty chemical industry,” commented Christiane Beck, Event Manager of Chemspec Europe. “This year’s event demonstrated the strength and dynamism of our industry, bringing together a diverse range of exhibitors and attendees to foster innovation, collaboration, and growth. Chemspec Europe continues to be an essential platform for industry professionals to connect and advance the field of fine and specialty chemicals.”
A total of 7,600 industry experts attended from around the world, with visitors primarily from Germany, the Netherlands, and India, followed by Italy and the United Kingdom. The majority of visitors represented industry sectors such as fine chemicals, agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, paint & coatings, and cosmetics, toiletries & personal care. Key visitor roles included management, commercial, purchasing & procurement, and research and development.
Exhibitors showcased the full spectrum of fine and specialty chemicals for a wide range of applications and industries, with a record net floor space of 7,627 m². This marks a 14.9% increase in net exhibition space and a nearly 14.5% increase in exhibitor numbers compared to the previous event. Major European exhibitor countries included Germany, the UK, Switzerland, France, and Belgium, while non-European exhibitors mainly came from India, China, and the USA.
Valuable Industry Insights from the Extensive Conference Programme
Chemspec Europe hosted over 50 sessions within its conference programme, featuring panel discussions, exhibitor presentations, and keynote sessions. Highlights included “Chemical Value Chains – Today and Tomorrow” by Dorothee Arns, Director General at the European Association of Chemical Distributors (FECC), and “An Evolving Legislative Landscape Moving Towards Responsible Supply Chain Management” by Dr. Birgit Skuballa and Rincy Joseph from Bayer, representing the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Initiative (PSCI).
The “Innovative Start-Ups” sessions, organized in cooperation with show partner BCNP, featured emerging businesses discussing topics such as green chemistry, analytics, big data, and artificial intelligence. The Royal Society of Chemistry symposium, in cooperation with RSC, included sessions like “How to speed up API development using flow chemistry” by Dr. Guillaume Gauron from Corning SAS, and “Visualized Whole System Understanding for Resource Innovation in Specialty Chemicals” by Robert Peeling from Britest Ltd.
Covering a wide range of topics from sustainability and circular economy to innovative materials, cost reduction techniques, digitalization, and legislative changes, Chemspec Europe proved to be a dynamic reflection of the industry’s ongoing evolution and progress.
High Re-Booking Rate Among Exhibitors for Chemspec Europe 2025 in Cologne
An initial evaluation of the exhibition survey revealed that over 80% of exhibitors were highly satisfied with the show. A large majority of exhibitors already secured their stands for Chemspec Europe 2025 while on-site. Consequently, the majority of the total net floor space is already booked and reserved for the upcoming exhibition.
Chemspec Europe 2025 will take place from 4-5 June in Cologne, Germany.
