In Bustling Bangkok, Asia’s Packaging Industry Prepares For Its Next Test
On the afternoon of March 5 in Bangkok, under a sharp sun and the city’s usual humidity, visitors shuffled through the long corridors of the sprawling Impact Arena, Exhibition and Convention Centre, moving between meeting rooms, exhibition halls, food counters and small convenience shops scattered across the complex. Spread across multiple buildings and vast indoor spaces, it can feel less like a single convention centre and more like a maze of connected halls and walkways, with different events unfolding simultaneously across its cavernous interiors.
Inside one of those halls, representatives of ProPak Asia spoke about the platform’s role in bringing together companies involved in food, beverage and pharmaceutical processing and packaging technologies. The conversation turned to how such industry platforms operate across the region, connecting equipment makers, suppliers, and manufacturers in sectors where processing and packaging are central to modern supply chains.
In Thailand, industrial exhibitions are increasingly functioning as industry networking hubs rather than just display platforms. Part of the global ProPak exhibition series spanning markets such as India, Vietnam, China, the Philippines and the Middle East, the Bangkok event focuses on food, beverage and pharmaceutical processing and packaging technologies while linking regional demand with international suppliers.
However, like many large industry trade fairs, it operates within a sector facing broader debates. Critics in the packaging industry often point to rising exhibition costs for smaller companies, questions about return on investment for exhibitors, and increasing environmental scrutiny over plastic packaging and waste.
Inside Asia’s Automation Acceleration
The upcoming edition of ProPak Asia will expand its footprint with organisers planning a 20 per cent increase in exhibition space to roughly 65,000 square metres. More than 2,500 exhibiting brands from 45 countries are expected to showcase machinery and technology spanning the entire value chain, from processing and filling to packaging, inspection systems, cold chain logistics and warehouse automation.
Last year’s event attracted over 2,000 exhibiting brands from 42 countries and welcomed more than 72,000 visitors globally, utilising 55,000 square meters of exhibition space and generating over THB 5.5 billion in trade value. The exhibition this year is expected to highlight emerging technologies shaping industrial production, including artificial intelligence-driven automation, robotics, machine vision inspection systems and internet-connected factory monitoring platforms. Organisers say these innovations are increasingly being integrated into manufacturing lines as companies pursue higher productivity while reducing energy use, water consumption and material waste.
“In today's environment, uncertainty is pushing industry to upgrade faster. ProPak Asia 2026 will help companies access the technologies, partners and insights they need to improve efficiency, strengthen quality and compliance, and build more sustainable operations, from production and processing to packaging, warehousing and logistics,” stated Sanchai Noombunnam, Country General Manager for Thailand at Informa Markets.
Organisers noted the platform continues to connect global technology suppliers with regional demand at a time when industries are rethinking how products are processed, packaged and delivered across increasingly complex supply chains. However, the sector also faces structural pressures that could shape its trajectory in the coming years. Rising raw-material costs for plastics, pulp and paper, along with supply-chain disruptions and volatile energy prices, are increasing production costs and squeezing margins for packaging manufacturers across Asia-Pacific.
Industry reports noted that fluctuations in polymer and paperboard prices, combined with tighter environmental regulations and extended producer responsibility (EPR) rules being rolled out across several ASEAN markets, are forcing companies to invest heavily in sustainable materials and compliance systems while maintaining competitive pricing. Limited recycling infrastructure in many emerging economies further complicates the shift toward circular packaging models.
Beyond visitor numbers, Thailand’s exhibition industry is increasingly evaluated by its economic impact and business value creation. The country’s Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (Mice) sector generated 148.3 billion baht in revenue from 25.35 million travellers in FY2024.
http://business-world-image-bucket.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/01-ProPak2025_0 (1).jpgBut persistent pressures include rising venue costs, talent shortages in specialised event management skills and intensifying competition from regional hubs such as Singapore and South Korea. In addition, Thai data showed 667 factories deregistered between Q1 and Q3FY24, resulting in more than 17,000 job losses, showing how economic volatility can reduce participation from exhibitors and investors.
Asked about the indicators showing the exhibition’s role in driving industry investment and innovation, Noombunnam added that organisers measure outcomes through exhibitor and visitor surveys, post-event business feedback, and tracking metrics such as qualified buyer meetings, partnership discussions and investment interest generated during the event. “Many exhibitors report new distribution partnerships, technology trials or purchasing negotiations that begin at the exhibition and develop into long-term collaborations afterwards.”
Regional Industry Eyes Rapid Growth
The Asia‑Pacific market for food packaging technology and equipment reached about USD 11.5 billion in 2024 and is expanding at an annual pace of around 6 per cent, driven by urbanisation, rising exports of processed foods and broader industrialisation across emerging economies, according to Towards Packaging research. China alone accounted for roughly 30 per cent of that growth last year as domestic demand and export‑oriented processing pulled forward investment in high‑speed, automated machinery.
In this context, automation and digitalisation, including robot‑assisted packaging lines, machine‑vision inspection systems and internet‑connected factory monitoring platforms, are not just buzzwords but rapidly becoming baseline expectations among mid‑sized and large manufacturers across the region. Industry analysts said the trend toward smart packaging solutions and sustainable materials shows shifting priorities among both buyers and policymakers.
As ProPak Asia 2026 approaches, a new focus area has also emerged for the organisers, which is digitalisation across processing and packaging systems. Noombunnam also mentioned that exhibitors now expect stronger buyer targeting, data-driven marketing, and curated business matching rather than simply booth exposure. There is also greater emphasis on live demonstrations, technology showcases, and industry conferences that provide practical insights. “At the same time, organisers are investing more in digital tools, visitor analytics, and international outreach to ensure exhibitors connect with the right decision-makers.”
http://business-world-image-bucket.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/PROPAK 2025 (2) (1).jpgThai media reports stated that adoption of digital tools across Thailand’s private sector has accelerated in recent years, driven by ecommerce, cloud computing and government digital-economy initiatives. Around 90 per cent of domestic SMEs now use some form of digital tool, and 86 per cent rely on digital platforms in daily operations. However, the transformation remains uneven as about 69 per cent of SMEs have only digitised a few business functions, while 70 per cent of industrial firms operate at a basic “Industry 2.0” level of digitalisation.
For manufacturers and investors across Southeast Asia, such platforms offer a rare opportunity to see entire production ecosystems operating in one place and they are accelerating investments in automation, digitalisation and environmentally responsible packaging as they adapt to new market realities. Increasing pressure for traceability in production, alongside the push for recyclable and low-impact packaging materials, is reshaping how companies approach processing and packaging technology across the region.
“Manufacturers are investing more in automation, digitalisation, and sustainable production systems as they respond to rising costs, regulatory requirements, and global supply chain changes. As a result, we are seeing particularly strong interest from exhibitors in areas such as smart manufacturing, robotics and automation, sustainable packaging materials, cold chain technologies, and digital production monitoring systems," Noombunnam told BW.
Despite its strong manufacturing base and investment incentives, businesses in Thailand continue to face several challenges related to ease of doing business. Regulatory complexity and compliance requirements remain a key concern, with companies spending around 264 hours annually on tax compliance, including corporate income tax (20 per cent) and value-added tax filings, according to industry analysis.
According to industry insiders, legal and administrative processes can also be slow: enforcing commercial contracts takes about 440 days and involves 36 procedures. In contrast, insolvency resolution can take around 2.7 years, affecting investor confidence and business continuity. Cross-border trade procedures can also be bureaucratic, often taking up to two weeks to export or import goods, adding delays to supply chains.
These structural hurdles contribute to Thailand’s declining regional ranking, with the country falling to 12th among 13 Asia-Pacific economies in the ease of doing business. Notably, Thai exports in 2025 reached a record high of USD 339.6 billion, marking a 12.9 per cent year-on-year increase, the strongest growth in four years. Driven by electronics, AI-related products, and machinery, exports saw an 18-month streak of expansion. However, a trade deficit of USD 5.31 billion was recorded as imports rose to USD 344.94 billion
Digital transformation is seen as a competitive necessity rather than an optional upgrade. According to market reports, the global food processing automation market is estimated at about USD 28 billion in 2025 and could exceed USD 40 billion by 2030, reflecting rising demand for robotics, sensors and AI-driven systems across food manufacturing.
In Southeast Asia, this shift is not uniform. Larger producers in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand are adopting fully integrated smart lines, while smaller manufacturers in Cambodia and Myanmar are still grappling with basic mechanisation. Nonetheless, the cumulative effect across ASEAN is a structural upgrade of processing capability, analysts say.
"While digital platforms are useful for marketing and information sharing, industrial technologies, especially processing and packaging equipment, often require physical demonstrations for buyers to fully evaluate performance and return on investment. Trade exhibitions allow manufacturers to see machines in operation, compare solutions from multiple suppliers in one place, and have direct technical discussions. This face-to-face interaction helps accelerate trust, shorten decision cycles, and often leads to more meaningful business outcomes than virtual engagement alone," said Noombunnam.
Indo-Thai Collaboration For Rapid Growth
India’s packaging and processing sectors are among the fastest‑growing in Asia, buoyed by robust consumption, rising exports and supportive government policy. India’s overall packaging market is projected to expand from about USD 84 billion in 2024 to more than USD 140 billion by 2029, growing at an approximate 11 per cent compound annual growth rate, according to research data.
Within this, flexible packaging, lightweight films, pouches and laminated formats are among the largest segments, supported by rising demand from FMCG, pharmaceuticals and food producers. The country’s processed food industry, which accounted for nearly 8 per cent of manufacturing output in the fiscal year 2024‑25 and supports millions of jobs, is also projected to approach USD 535 billion by the end of the 2025‑26 financial year.
Regional events in India, such as ProPak India and co‑located shows like Fi India, are connecting local processors with global technology suppliers. Noombunnam added that the exhibition provides a strategic platform for Indian companies to explore new technologies, build regional partnerships, and expand their presence in ASEAN markets.
“India is one of the most important and fastest-growing markets for ProPak Asia. The country has a rapidly expanding food processing, pharmaceutical and FMCG manufacturing sector, which is driving strong interest in modern processing and packaging technologies. Each year, we see increasing participation from Indian exhibitors and visitors looking to connect with partners across Southeast Asia," Noombunnam stated.
Meanwhile, for ProPak Asia, the real measure of success will extend beyond exhibition footfall to whether the technologies on display translate into tangible industry adoption. The real test will lie in how far industries actually adopt AI-driven inspection systems, transition to sustainable materials and move toward greater regulatory alignment across the region. For many manufacturers, the challenge will not be access to innovation but the willingness and ability to invest in technologies that remain costly, complex and unevenly adopted across Asian markets.
Disclaimer: The journalist’s participation in this event was supported by ProPak Asia, which provided hospitality and access. Editorial independence was maintained.
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