Chemspec Europe 2023: Record exhibition space and immense visitor growth propel the event to pre-pandemic levels and beyond
2 June 2023
The 36th International Exhibition for Fine and Speciality Chemicals concluded last week at the Messe Basel exhibition centre in Switzerland. The largest edition of Chemspec Europe in size so far, the event welcomed 353 exhibitors from 24 countries, presenting their innovative substances and bespoke solutions on a record net exhibition space of 6,672.5 m2. Increasing visitor numbers by 32% compared to last year’s edition, the show attracted a total of 4,152 trade visitors from 62 countries. With visitor attendance matching the 2019 results, Chemspec Europe again confirmed its position in the sector by hitting pre-pandemic levels on event size and attendee numbers.
“We are delighted with the positive outcome of Chemspec Europe 2023. For the fine and speciality chemical industry, the event has always represented a key meeting point to keep up with current trends and the latest findings in R&D, facilitate commercial trade and form strategic partnerships. It was great to see such positive results, which confirm that the show is growing again and marks its importance in the industry as the ideal marketplace to present the diversification and future trends of the fine and speciality chemicals sector” comments Christiane Beck, Event Manager of Chemspec Europe, and on behalf of RX, organiser of the event.
Chemspec Europe 2023 connected almost 7,000 industry experts from all over the world. Visitors came from a total of 62 countries; primarily from Germany (22%) and Switzerland (18%), followed by Italy, the UK, France and India. The majority of visitors were from industry sectors such as fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and cosmetics, toiletries & personal care. The main responsibilities of the visitors within their companies were managerial roles, purchasing & procurement positions and R&D.
A total of 353 exhibitors showcased the full spectrum of fine and speciality chemicals for a large range of applications and industries. Exhibitors came from 24 countries. The major European exhibitor countries were Germany, France, Switzerland, the UK and Belgium. Non-European exhibitors mainly came from China, India and the USA.
Exhibitors and visitors took advantage of the free Matchmaking Programme to identify potential leads and connect with compatible prospects on the basis of common buyer and seller interests. In addition to the show buzz and uncountable ad-hoc meetings at the booths, a total of 1,519 business meetings were prearranged via the Matchmaking portal.
Valuable market insights from a comprehensive conference programme
Chemspec Europe 2023 hosted a total of 43 conference sessions, providing perspectives into current challenges and opportunities of different fine and speciality chemicals sectors. Hosted in the Agrochemical Lecture Theatre on the first day, the Innovative Start-ups Presentations, organised in cooperation with BCNP Consultants GmbH and sponsored by CHEManager Innovation Pitch, presented the outlook of 10 emerging start-ups, highlighting ideas and approaches on carbon capture and use, digitalisation, and green chemistry. The conference programme included a two-day symposium, sponsored by the Royal Society of Chemistry, which discussed supply chain solutions, market strategies and industry developments. In the Pharma Lecture Theatre, lectures shared insights on the pharmaceutical industry landscape, including the presentation Intermediates for Pharma and Agro by Weylchem International GmbH and the Pharma Outsourcing Best Practices Panel, moderated by Marianne Späne from Siegfried AG. The Regulatory Services Lecture Theatre featured sessions covering REACH and international regulations, including the session Latest Updates of Chemical Regulations in China by CIRS Ltd - Chemical Inspection & Regulation Service Limited.
High re-booking rate among exhibitors for the next edition
The next 37th event edition of Chemspec Europe will take place from 19-20 June 2024 at Messe Düsseldorf in Germany. Whilst in Basel, a large number of exhibitors have already confirmed their presence at Chemspec Europe 2024. As a result, approximately 80% of the total stand space is reserved for the upcoming edition.
