SWOP

About the fair

Shanghai World of Packaging (SWOP) is an international global packaging and processing exhibition. It presents all solutions — from packaging-material and packaging production (plastic, paper, glass, metal, etc.) and packaging printing and related processing technology at PacPro Asia, to pharmaceutical and cosmetic processing and packaging at China Pharm, food processing and packaging technology at FoodPex, and bulk and outer packaging and transport at BulkPex. SWOP offers one-stop packaging and processing solutions and an interactive exchange platform for packaging and printing companies, end-product manufacturers and other buyers.

Planning the trip

• Register the badge online. Every major fair issues visitor badges in advance, and on-site registration means queueing on the busiest morning of the show. Registration usually opens one to two months out.
• Check the visa position early. China's entry rules have changed repeatedly in recent years, including visa-free arrangements for a growing list of countries and transit exemptions. Confirm what applies to your passport for this month, and ask the organiser for an invitation letter if a business visa is needed — issuing one is routine.
• Book accommodation before the dates firm up. A large fair fills its host city and rates move accordingly. Cancellable bookings made early cost less than confirmed ones made late.
• Decide which halls before you arrive. The bigger Chinese fairs run to several halls across separate phases, and walking them without a plan burns a day. Shortlist the stands you need and treat anything else as a bonus.
• Plan the follow-up, not just the visit. Business cards collected at a fair convert poorly once you fly home: quotes arrive in patchy English, samples stall, and the time difference eats a day per exchange. Deciding who handles that before you travel is what makes the trip pay for itself.