Agrofood East Africa Exhibition 2026 – Addis Ababa to host key agro-food industry event for East Africa

9 April 2026

From 14–16 August 2026, the Addis International Convention Centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia will host Agrofood East Africa Exhibition 2026, an international exhibition dedicated to agriculture, food processing, beverages, and packaging technologies. The event will bring together manufacturers, suppliers, and industry professionals from around the world, creating a business platform for one of East Africa’s fastest-growing agro-food markets.

The exhibition aims to strengthen business relations between Ethiopia, the wider East African region, and international markets across sectors such as agribusiness, food processing technology, packaging equipment, and fast-moving consumer goods.

Ethiopia – a growing market with strong potential

Ethiopia is one of the largest food markets on the African continent and imports significant volumes of food products, particularly wheat, pulses, and cooking oil. In 2025, the country’s total food imports reached USD 2.36 billion, sourced from markets including India, the United States, Turkey, the UAE, and Egypt.

At the same time, Ethiopia is one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies. Agriculture accounts for around 35% of GDPand provides employment for more than 65% of the population. The country is known for producing coffee, pulses, oilseeds, cereals, fruits, and livestock. Although agro-industries represent around half of Ethiopia’s manufacturing sector, they currently contribute only 5% of GDP, highlighting considerable room for growth in value-added food production and processing.

Ethiopia has also made wheat production a strategic priority on its path toward greater food self-sufficiency. Through the expansion of irrigated farming, improved seed varieties, and modern cultivation techniques, the country has significantly increased wheat yields and marketable surplus. However, only a small share of agricultural output is processed domestically, which opens substantial opportunities for suppliers of processing technologies, packaging solutions, and industrial equipment.

International platform for business development

Agrofood East Africa Exhibition 2026 is expected to welcome more than 100 exhibitors and over 5,000 visitors, with participants from more than 8 countries. This positions the exhibition as an important meeting point for companies looking to establish or expand their presence in East Africa.

The event offers direct access to importers, distributors, manufacturers, retailers, and professionals from the FMCG sector, creating opportunities to build partnerships and explore commercial opportunities in one of the region’s most promising markets.

Broad exhibition profile

The exhibition will cover a wide range of product categories and technologies, including:

rice, grains, cereals, flavourings, dates, and eggs
spices, condiments, herbs, sauces, and preserves
mineral water, spring water, flavoured water, beverages, and juices
tea, coffee, and herbal infusions
milk, cheese, dairy products, and ice cream
fresh fruits and vegetables, canned and chilled foods, and seafood
confectionery, snacks, bakery products, desserts, chocolates, and sweets
canned and ready-to-eat foods, jams, jellies, and processed products
fats, oils, seeds, and dairy products
organic, bio, and diet foods, as well as food ingredients and flavours
olives and olive oil
meat, poultry, frozen foods, honey, jams, and energy drinks
food processing, packaging, filling, labelling, and printing technologies
packaging lines, conveyors, materials, bottling plants, and bakery equipment
carton boxes, corrugated boxes, filling machinery, labelling, and sealing systems

A gateway to East Africa’s food and processing sectors

Agrofood East Africa Exhibition 2026 represents a strategic opportunity for companies looking to enter or strengthen their position in East Africa. With rising demand for food products, processing solutions, packaging systems, and supply chain technologies, the exhibition provides a valuable platform for market access, business networking, and long-term development in the region.