PLASTEX 2026 opens in Cairo as plastics industry eyes growth, sustainability push

PLASTEX 2026, the Middle East and North Africa’s largest plastics and rubber exhibition, opened in Cairo on Friday, bringing together global manufacturers, technology providers, and policymakers as the sector gains strategic importance for industrial growth and exports.

The four-day event, held under the patronage of Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly, hosts around 500 exhibitors and is expected to draw more than 32,000 industry professionals from over 60 countries, organisers said. The exhibition was inaugurated by Khaled Abu El Makarem, chairman of the Chemical and Fertilisers Export Council.

Organisers said the turnout positions Cairo as a regional hub for deal-making and policy discussion as producers grapple with shifting regulations, rising demand for advanced materials and pressure to adopt more sustainable manufacturing models.

Running alongside the exhibition for the first time is a conference programme covering strategy, recycling and packaging, and technical innovation. Sessions focus on materials innovation, circular economy frameworks, advanced processing technologies and the regulatory and investment outlook for plastics and rubber.

Speakers include executives from Egypt’s petrochemicals sector as well as international packaging and recycling specialists, reflecting the industry’s increasingly global and integrated value chain.

“The plastics and chemicals industry is a fundamental pillar of industrial development and export competitiveness,” Abu El Makarem said, adding that PLASTEX offers a platform for manufacturers and decision-makers to exchange expertise and support sustainable growth.

PLASTEX 2026 runs from 9–12 Jan. at the Egypt International Exhibition Centre, with organisers citing strong regional and international participation amid renewed interest in Egypt’s industrial and export potential.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English