Plast 2026 confirms its position as Europe's leading trade fair of the year in the plastics and rubber industry. The twentieth edition, scheduled from 9 to 12 June at Fiera Milano, has delivered positive results despite the complex international geopolitical and economic landscape, marked by trade tensions and instability across global markets.
The Milan show is demonstrating its resilience with the participation of over 1,000 exhibitors – 44% of them international companies – 200 of whom were not present at either of the two previous editions, across a floor space of over 40,000 square metres. A result all the more significant in a challenging market environment in which strategic sectors such as the automotive industry are undergoing a period of profound transformation. Attracting 200 new exhibiting companies in this context is a clear signal of the industry's confidence in Plast as a platform for showcasing innovation and developing commercial relationships.
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The organisation is also working to significantly increase the presence of international visitors, with representatives from the main destinations of Italian exports, through buyer delegations organised in collaboration with Agenzia ICE and strategic agreements with leading trade associations - both within the sector and representing key end markets. Over 300 delegate companies are expected, including around seventy from India and a similar number from Latin America.
Satellite shows
Plast, together with its three satellite shows – Rubber, 3D Plast and PlastMat – represents the entire supply chain of the plastics and rubber industry, occupying six of the eight halls at MaTec. Rubber is dedicated to the rubber sector, from materials to processing technologies and industrial applications. 3D Plast explores the frontiers of 3D printing and additive technologies applied to polymers. PlastMat focuses on materials innovation, a central theme in the evolution of the manufacturing industry.
A market with strong potential
The "Made in Europe" machinery sector is characterised by a strong export orientation, including towards emerging markets with a growing appetite for investment, and maintains a strategic role on the global stage. Access to these markets represents a decisive lever for consolidating the excellence of European companies, particularly manufacturers of machinery for processing plastics and rubber. In this context, Plast 2026 offers industry players a leading showcase for the most advanced solutions, with particular attention to the challenges of technological innovation and environmental sustainability.
Italian plastics and rubber machinery export performance
Data on Italian exports of plastics and rubber machinery in 2025, compiled by the Amaplast research department, paint a mixed picture: significant contractions across nearly all geographical areas, with the sole exception of Asia/Oceania, driven primarily by China and India.
