SIAL China Shanghai: Food Expo Guide for Exporters
By Ilyas Kerbal,
SIAL China, also known as SIAL Interfood Shanghai, is one of the largest food and beverage exhibitions in Asia and part of Comexposium’s global SIAL network. The 2026 edition brought more than 4,500 exhibitors and 180,000+ professionals from over 100 countries across 18 F&B sectors. It’s a key gateway for foreign food brands and wine and spirits producers looking for Chinese importers and distributors, and the SIAL China attendee list is a practical way to reach them.
This guide is for exporters and suppliers planning the May 2027 show.
SIAL China at a glance
| Industry | Food & beverage |
| City | Shanghai, China |
| Venue | Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC), Pudong |
| Dates | May, 2026: 18–20 May |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Moves between cities? | No (Shanghai; separate Guangzhou/Shenzhen editions) |
| Typical scale | ~120,000 attendees · ~4,500 exhibitors |
| Visitor ticket | Free online registration; on-site registration charged |
| App / platform | Website + WeChat mini program; VIP Buyer matchmaking |
| Official website | sialchina.com |
Details checked in October 2026. Dates, prices and venues can change between editions, so confirm on the official SIAL China website before you book travel.
What is SIAL China?
The show spans 18 sectors, including:
- Meat, seafood and dairy
- Wine, spirits and beverages
- Snacks, confectionery and bakery
- Fine food and imported grocery
- Foodservice and catering supply chain
- Future foods, plant-based and food tech
- Food logistics and the digital supply chain
New zones in 2026 covered digital food supply chain and logistics, future foods and AI, and food startups. Signature events include the SIAL Innovation awards, Best Steak, La Cuisine, TuttoPizza and the SIAL Global Food Industry Summit.
SIAL China fills SNIEC in Pudong every May. Photo: Pyzhou, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Where and when
The flagship SIAL China takes place every May at SNIEC, 2345 Longyang Road, Pudong. The 2026 edition ran 18–20 May. A separate edition, SIAL in China South, runs in the Guangzhou/Shenzhen area later in the year.
Who attends SIAL China
| Attendee | What they want | Who should target them |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese food importers and distributors | Foreign brands and products | Exporters, national pavilions |
| Retail and supermarket buyers | Ranges for shelves | Brands, private-label suppliers |
| HoReCa and catering groups | Foodservice products | Foodservice suppliers |
| Cross-border e-commerce platforms | Imported SKUs | Brands, logistics firms |
| Foreign exporters and national pavilions | Chinese buyers | Distributors, compliance consultants |
| Food tech startups and investors | Funding and partners | VCs, corporates |
The audience is mostly distributors, with fewer end retailers. For exporters, that’s usually the right first step anyway.
Planning to exhibit at SIAL China? I build SIAL China attendee and exhibitor lists before the event: names, job titles, companies, company size, LinkedIn profiles and work emails where available, delivered as a CSV ready for HubSpot, Salesforce or Pipedrive. Ask for your SIAL China list
Registration
Registration is free for industry professionals who register online in advance; on-site registration is charged. Under-18s and non-industry visitors over 70 aren’t admitted.
Matchmaking and data
Information and registration run through sialchina.com and a WeChat mini program; there’s no standalone app. A VIP Buyer Programme provides business matchmaking. Matchmaking is useful but limited to the buyers who join it. To reach the wider pool of importers and distributors, you need an enriched list you can segment by category, region and company size.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Strong international pavilions for export to China | Complex Chinese import regulations (labels, registration) |
| Free online registration | Overlaps with FHC and other Shanghai food fairs |
| Matchmaking for buyers | On-site registration costs extra |
| Comexposium’s global network | Mostly distributors, fewer end retailers |
| Rich content programme | Busy May calendar in Shanghai |
Exhibiting is expensive. An empty meeting calendar is worse. A pre-event SIAL China list with decision-makers, companies and LinkedIn profiles gives your booth staff something to work with. Get the SIAL China attendee list
How exporters prepare for SIAL China
- Sort out import compliance first: labels, registration and documentation.
- Register online to avoid the on-site fee.
- Target distributors by category and region; China is many markets, not one.
- Apply to the VIP Buyer Programme or work with your national pavilion.
- Bring Chinese-language materials and price lists in RMB.
- Compare SIAL and FHC to decide where your buyers spend their time.
FAQ
When is SIAL China 2027?
SIAL China is held every May at SNIEC. The 2026 edition ran 18–20 May; check sialchina.com for 2027 dates.
Is SIAL China free?
Yes, for industry professionals who register online in advance. On-site registration is charged.
What is SIAL in China South?
A separate SIAL edition in the Guangzhou/Shenzhen area, held later in the year.
Can I get the SIAL China attendee list?
There’s no exportable list. I can build an enriched list of SIAL China exhibitors and buyer profiles.
Get the SIAL China attendee list before the show
Past clients have used my lists to fill their meeting calendars before a show and to stop leads going cold afterwards. If you want the same for SIAL China, tell me what you sell and who you need to reach, and I’ll come back with what I can deliver and when.
Request your SIAL China list on the home page
Related event guides
- FHC Shanghai 2026: Imported Food and Hospitality Fair Guide
- Gulfood Dubai Guide: Two Venues, Passes and Buyer Leads
- World Food India Guide: Food Processing Expo in New Delhi
Sources
Photo credits
- Cover image: SIAL Paris 2010 secteur des innovations by Portal Abras, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- In-article image: Shanghai new international expo centre by Pyzhou, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
