WEPACK 2027 Sets Shanghai Dates for Nine Packaging Shows

24 October 2026: RX said in a 22 October 2026 release that WEPACK 2027 will return to Shanghai on 27-29 April 2027 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. Nine specialised exhibitions will bring packaging materials, machinery and finished products together, giving buyers a venue to compare equipment and discuss production upgrades.

RX’s headline event projections put exhibition space at roughly 140,000 square metres, with more than 1,500 exhibitors and around 140,000 professional visitors. These are organiser forecasts, not confirmed attendance or bookings.

The return to Shanghai follows WEPACK’s 2026 Shenzhen edition, which featured eight concurrent exhibitions.

RX reports that the 2025 Shanghai edition attracted 138,614 visitors from 134 countries and regions, including 18,806 international visitors. Those historical figures are separate from its 2027 recruitment targets.

What will WEPACK 2027 cover?

RX’s nine-show programme comprises SinoCorrugated, SinoFoldingCarton, DPrint, Sinopaper, InnoLabel, PACKCON, the International Aerosol and Metal Containers Exhibition, Plant Fiber and Food Packaging Manufacturing Tech Expo and New Label Industry Expo.

The planned coverage spans base paper, raw materials, converting machinery and finished packaging in paper, plastics, metals and glass. RX intends to connect packaging manufacturers with end users in sectors including food and beverages, cosmetics, healthcare, consumer electronics and e-commerce logistics.

Overseas buyers and supplier matching

RX says its 2027 buyer recruitment will focus on Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. The organiser also runs WEPACK Southeast Asia, a separate regional event.

For Shanghai, RX plans to continue travel subsidies and on-site purchasing incentives for qualified overseas Trade Audience Programme delegations. Its Global Super Agent Programme will cover base paper, corrugated machinery, printing equipment, spare parts and consumables, and food packaging machinery.

The organiser also plans advance buyer profiling and a dedicated international business-matching area for one-to-one meetings. It aims to attract more than 1,000 new international buyers seeking equipment, materials or production-process upgrades.

Sustainability zone will address PPWR

The announced theme is “Pioneering Carbon-Neutral Packaging, Powering a Green Global Chain”. RX plans a Packaging Sustainability and PPWR Compliance Technology Zone, with water-based coatings, film-free embossing, precision die-cutting, inspection systems and moulded-pulp packaging among the proposed demonstrations.

RX describes water-based coatings as alternatives to PET film lamination and purely mechanical embossing as an alternative finishing method. Another planned demonstration involves moulded-pulp packaging in which manufacturers form the body and inner insert in a single process.

The European Commission’s PPWR guidance makes the timing relevant: the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation began applying in phases on 12 August 2026. Requirements concerning packaging recyclability and recycled content in plastic packaging apply from 2030, rather than all taking effect immediately.

What buyers should check before attending

Visitors can use the combined format to compare equipment, materials and finishing methods against their production needs. Before relying on a buyer incentive, applicants should confirm eligibility and the support offered rather than assume travel costs will be covered.

For Indian printing and packaging companies, earlier Indian participation at WEPACK 2026 offers background on the industry’s involvement. Buyers preparing for 2027 should define the required packaging format, production capacity and target market before arranging supplier meetings.