October 15, 2025 16:04

K 2025 didn’t break attendance records this year, but it confirmed the momentum seen in the previous edition.

The event wraps up today in Düsseldorf with more than 175,000 trade visitors from 160 countries, according to figures released by the organizers. This number is in line with K 2022’s 177,000, though still well below the peaks of 230,000 in 2016 and the record 242,000 visitors set in 2007.

International attendance remained strong, with 73% of visitors coming from abroad. Among them, one-third traveled from outside Europe. There were 6,300 visitors from China, a similar figure from India, and 10,000 from the U.S. and Brazil combined.

Beyond the numbers, the exhibition halls were once again bustling. And more than absolute visitor figures, it is the quality and investment readiness of attendees that ultimately define the fair’s success — though it’s too early to draw definitive conclusions on that front.

In terms of scale, 3,275 exhibitors from 66 countries occupied the entire Düsseldorf fairgrounds, which once again proved too vast to fully explore in just eight days.

Organizers not only highlighted the scale of participation, but also reported high satisfaction rates among attendees. According to preliminary surveys, 95% of visitors said they had achieved their objectives, and 98% rated the range of products and services as excellent or very good.

“The environment we currently have to navigate remains enormously challenging,” said Ulrich Reifenhäuser, chairman of the K 2025 Exhibitor Advisory Board. “But it is especially in such times that the strength of our industry becomes visible. Every three years the global plastics sector comes together here – and for good reason: K is the place where innovations are launched, partnerships are forged, and visions turn into reality.”

The dates for the next edition have already been announced: K 2028 will take place from Oct. 18 to 25, once again in Düsseldorf.

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