The 29th JEDDAH INTERNATIONAL AGRO-FOOD AND PRINT-PACKING EXHIBITION

Date: Dec 3^rd - 5^th, 2025

Venue: Jeddah Center For Forums & Events

Organizer: KAC International Exhibition Group Limited

Exhibition Scope

1.Food Additives, condiments, canned foods, food processing technology, non-alcoholic beverages, marine foods, baked goods, confectionery and candy processing technology, frozen foods, refrigerated foods, dairy products, coffee and tea, meat products, poultry products, Halal food, health foods, specialty and fine foods, fast food and snacks, convenience foods, etc.

2.Catering industry products, kitchen equipment, refrigeration facilities, hotel equipment, hotel supplies and services, food service products, tableware and accessories, hotel furniture, store decorations, display stands, etc.

3.Food processing machinery and accessories, food packaging machinery, food packaging, coding and measuring equipment, etc.

4.Food packaging machinery and accessories, vacuum packaging machines, box gluing machine, bag making machines, filling/sealing/capping/cutting machines, testing instruments, meat processing technology, packaging materials, plastic machinery, preservatives, quality inspection equipment, weighing equipment, smoking & coating equipment, printing machinery (patterns/text/bar codes), strapping machines, sterilization equipment, etc.

5.Agricultural machinery and related equipment/technologies, etc.

6.FFS packaging machines, filling and bottling machines, coding and marking systems, labeling machines, conveyor belts, secondary packaging machines, end-of-line packaging equipment, logistics and material handling, packaging raw materials, flexible packaging processing machines, paper processing machines, box gluing machine, rigid box manufacturing machines, corrugated box making machines, etc.

Project Introduction

This internationally recognized exhibition has been successfully hosted in Saudi Arabia for 28 consecutive editions, establishing itself as a premier platform for global food trade enterprises and manufacturers of advanced technological equipment. The annual event features an exhibition space exceeding 15,000 square meters, attracting over 300 participating enterprises from diverse countries and regions worldwide. The Chinese delegation primarily comprises exhibitors from Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, Inner Mongolia, Shandong, and other provincial-level regions. Each edition attracts over 20,000 professional visitors, with key attendance from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Oman, Jordan, and Egypt.

The annual trade volume of food and mechanical equipment in the Gulf region exceeds 9 billion US dollars. Among the Gulf countries, Saudi Arabia is the region with the largest consumption. Saudi Arabia currently accounts for 70% of the packaging market share of the Gulf Cooperation Council, approximately nearly 2 billion US dollars.

About Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is situated on the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia, covering approximately 70% of the peninsula's landmass. It is bordered by the Persian Gulf to the east and the Red Sea to the west, and shares land borders with Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Yemen, and Egypt.

In 2023, the GDP reached 1.06 trillion US dollars, with a per capita GDP of 28,800 US dollars. The country achieved a real GDP growth rate of 8.7% for the year, the highest among the 17 nations in the global trillion-dollar GDP club. The Saudi riyal (SAR), the national currency, maintains a fixed exchange rate of 3.75 SAR per US dollar, providing stability and trade advantages.

Saudi Arabia ranks 41^st globally by population, with 30.66 million residents as of late 2023. The population is notably young: 70% are under 40 years old, and 46% are under 30, fostering a dynamic consumer base. The country ranks 11^th on the Global Retail Trade Index and accounts for 70% of total retail consumption in the Middle East. Its market comprises three distinct tiers: high-end, middle-tie and mass market.

The Saudi economy remains heavily reliant on hydrocarbon resources, holding the world’s largest proven oil reserves and ranking as the top oil producer. However, its manufacturing sector is underdeveloped, with 95% of non-oil goods imported. This creates strong economic complementation with China, a manufacturing powerhouse. China is Saudi Arabia’s largest trading partner, primary export destination, and leading import source.

Market Business Opportunities

Saudi Arabia's 2030 Vision Reform Plan

In recent years, with the rise of Saudi Arabia's third-generation leader, Salman Jr., the country has embarked on bold reforms in an effort to build a brand-new economy that can break away from its reliance on oil and is sustainable. Saudi Arabia aims to become the heart of the Arab and Muslim worlds, a world economic power for global investment, and a global hub connecting Asia, Europe and Africa in its future development. It has also announced the "Vision 2030 Plan". This vision plan encompasses goals in multiple fields, including infrastructure, energy, economy, society and culture. Saudi Arabia is transforming the global business landscape and attracting global traffic through huge investments.

The market size of food and beverages in Saudi Arabia is expected to be 23.48 billion US dollars in 2024 and reach 27.83 billion US dollars by 2029. It is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 3.44% during the forecast period (2024-2029), demonstrating significant business opportunities, especially for Chinese food enterprises, where the prospects are very broad. With the advancement of economic diversification policies, Saudi Arabia is committed to reducing its reliance on oil, and the food and consumer goods industries have gradually become the focus of investment.

Saudi Arabia has a land area of approximately 2.25 million square kilometers, with arable land accounting for only 1.67%. Moreover, it is extremely short of water resources, resulting in a severe shortage of food. Moreover, with the growth of population and the improvement of living standards, consumers' demand for high-quality and healthy food is increasing day by day. In promoting the "Vision 2030" plan, the Saudi government has clearly put forward the goal of improving food safety and quality, which provides a good opportunity for Chinese food enterprises to enter the market.

Meanwhile, the young population structure in Saudi Arabia has brought vitality to the food market. According to statistics, approximately 60% of the population in Saudi Arabia is under the age of 30, and they tend to try fresh and diverse foods. Chinese food enterprises can attract the attention of these young consumers with their rich product lines.

The trade relationship between Saudi Arabia and China becomes increasingly close. In recent years, the two countries have strengthened economic cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, providing a favorable policy environment and convenient market access. Chinese enterprises can take advantage of these policy benefits to increase their investment and layout in the Saudi market. The Saudi food market offers vast business opportunities for Chinese food enterprises. Driven by policy support, market demand and the young consumer group, seizing this opportunity will open a new chapter for economic and trade cooperation between China and Saudi Arabia.

Jeddah, the second largest city in Saudi Arabia and a port city on the Red Sea coast, is the location of the government's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and embassies of various countries. It has the largest port in Saudi Arabia and is an extremely important financial center in the country. At the same time, because Jeddah is only 70 kilometers away from the holy city of Mecca, a pilgrimage destination for 1.8 billion Muslims around the world, Jeddah has also become an important transit city and serves as the economic and trade center of Saudi Arabia. With the advancement of Saudi Arabia's reform and opening up, its trade prospects will surpass those of Dubai and become the largest trading market in the Middle East. Compared with the Dubai market, which has a small market volume and mainly focuses on low-price re-export, the domestic terminal market in Saudi Arabia has significant advantages such as a large volume and high prices, providing considerable profit guarantees for Chinese foreign trade enterprises.

Diplomatic Relations Between Saudi Arabia and China

1.Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

In December 2022, the President of the People's Republic of China paid a state visit to Saudi Arabia. During the visit, the two heads of state personally signed the "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia", agreeing to hold a meeting between the heads of state of the two countries every two years in rotation.

2.An important partner of the Belt and Road Initiative

Saudi Arabia is one of the earliest countries to support and participate in jointly building the "Belt and Road Initiative". In recent years, the "Belt and Road Initiative" has been deeply integrated with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, inviting an increasing number of Chinese enterprises to participate in the construction of Saudi Arabia's diversified economic development.

3.The development of China-Saudi relations is marked by three notable trends: a surge in high-level diplomatic engagement, accelerated economic and trade collaboration, and flourishing cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

Against the backdrop of the steady advancement of the Belt and Road Initiative, Saudi Arabia has actively engaged with China's proposals. As strategic cooperative partners mutually recognized at the state level, the two countries maintain stable diplomatic relations characterized by frequent high-level interactions. In March 2023, through China's mediation, Saudi Arabia and Iran reached a historic agreement to restore diplomatic ties. On March 29 of the same year, the Saudi cabinet approved its accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, signaling deepened multilateral coordination.

4.Currency Swap Agreement Strengthens Financial Ties

In November 2023, the People's Bank of China and the Saudi Central Bank formalized a bilateral local currency swap agreement, elevating China-Saudi trade relations to a new phase and establishing a fresh milestone in economic cooperation. Guided by aligned national strategies, the two nations have forged comprehensive collaboration across military affairs, economic development, cultural programs, scientific innovation, and social initiatives. These efforts highlight the resilience of their strategic partnership and create robust institutional foundations for future cooperation. With sustained bilateral commitment, China-Saudi collaboration is poised to achieve greater depth and breadth in the years ahead.