The German trade fair industry represents billions in added value for the country, according to the first comprehensive survey of the sector since 2018.
A Prognos study, now published in full, has evaluated that €11.8bn are spent by exhibiting companies on their trade fair appearances in an average trade fair year in Germany. Visitors to these exhibitions spend an average of €3.9bn, with local trade fair organisers investing €140m in infrastructure and energy efficiency.
The new figures come from the recently published study ‘The Trade Fair Effect: Added Value, Growth, Competitiveness’ on the economic importance of the trade fair industry in Germany. The new survey was conducted by the economic research institute Prognos on behalf of the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry (AUMA).
The study, published in German only, shows that the direct expenditure and investments of around €15.9bn trigger further indirect economic effects totalling €10.1bn. These are primarily generated by supplier relationships.
The Prognos study claims the trade fair industry in Germany contributes a good €30bn in economic effects to the country’s prosperity every year and shows that at least 280,000 jobs in Germany are secured by the trade fair industry. In addition to the trade fair industry itself. Jobs are primarily secured or created in the transport, hospitality and retail sectors.
Philip Harting, chair of AUMA, said: “The German trade fair industry is a key industry for international networking and a first-class export promoter. Germany is the number one trade fair centre in the world. Two thirds of all leading global trade fairs take place in Germany. Economic policy at federal and state level must strengthen Germany as a trade fair location: a modern and digital visa system for our foreign trade fair visitors, a top transport infrastructure and trade fair promotion programmes that do justice to a leading export nation are the basis for Germany’s leading global position.”
An average trade fair year also generates €5.4bn in tax revenue for the German state, with the federal government benefitting to the tune of just under €2.4bn alone, followed by the federal states with a good 2.3bn, according to AUMA. This is mainly due to income tax and sales tax. Local authorities in Germany receive around €700m in tax revenue from the trade fair business, the association said.
The Prognos study was based on a large-scale survey of more than 33,700 visitors and over 17,700 exhibiting companies in Germany. It was conducted between September 2024 and October 2025 at 30 trade fair events at ten German trade fair venues. It is representative of an average trade fair cycle with more than 1,800 trade fair events over two years. The survey does not include the economic effects of contracts concluded at trade fairs.
Further detailed information on the economic significance of the German trade fair industry is available here (German only):
Source: www.exhibitionworld.co.uk
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