Rice exporters
Basmati and non-basmati exporters meeting importers.
Trade fair guide · Cologne
Anuga 2027: a guide for Pakistani food exporters
Anuga is one of the world’s two biggest food and beverage fairs and is held every two years in Cologne. For Pakistan’s rice, spice, halal meat and processed-food exporters, it is the place to meet importers from Europe, the Gulf and beyond.
Key facts
Anuga at a glance
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Dates | 9–13 October 2027 |
| Venue | Koelnmesse, Cologne-Deutz, with its own rail station |
| Frequency | Every two years, in odd years |
| Visa | A Schengen short-stay visa. If Germany is your main destination, apply to the German Embassy Islamabad or, for Sindh and Balochistan, the Consulate General in Karachi. Name the fair when you register for an appointment where asked. |
| Insurance | Travel medical insurance valid across Schengen with at least €30,000 cover. |
| Overlap | Frankfurt Book Fair runs 6–10 October 2027, adding pressure on regional hotels |
| Airports | Cologne Bonn, Düsseldorf or Frankfurt with a train |
Check before travel: visa rules, fees, processing times and event dates change without notice. This page was checked on 11 November 2026 against Koelnmesse and the German Embassy Islamabad. Confirm on the official source, or ask us to check for your trip, before you book anything non-refundable.
Who goes
Who from Pakistan attends Anuga
Halal and processed food
Meat, ready meals, spices and snacks.
Trade bodies
Pavilion organisers and associations.
Buyers
Getting to the price discussion
Importers at Anuga want specifications, certifications and shelf-life details before they talk price. Bring lab reports, halal and food-safety certificates, packaging samples and price lists on clear delivery terms. EU buyers will also ask about pesticide residues and traceability, which matter especially for rice.
Samples
Bringing food into the EU
Many food products face EU import rules even as samples. Plan samples with your forwarder and the fair’s exhibitor services, and avoid carrying restricted products in luggage.
Hotels
Cologne, Düsseldorf or Bonn
Cologne hotels fill early for Anuga. Düsseldorf and Bonn are 20 to 40 minutes away by train and often have better rates.
Rice
Basmati at Anuga
Basmati exporters compete with Indian suppliers at Anuga, and buyers compare grain length, aroma, ageing and residue testing. Bring results from accredited labs for EU pesticide limits, and samples in retail packs as well as bulk. Buyers from the Gulf and Africa also attend, so price lists for different markets are useful.
Anuga runs over five days, and the busiest are usually the first three. Many exporters plan importer meetings early in the week and use the last days for walking the halls and visiting competitors’ stands to compare packaging and prices.
- Accredited lab results
- Retail and bulk samples
- Market-specific price lists
With Go Global
How we plan Anuga trips
Go Global has handled 100,000+ trips, including exhibition teams and buyer delegations. For Anuga we confirm the dates with the organiser, plan the visa route first, then book flights, rooms and transfers in Cologne, and our team works 24/7 for travellers on the road.
Timeline
A planning timeline for Anuga
6 months before
Register; start the German appointment.
4 months
Hotels in Cologne, Düsseldorf or Bonn.
8 weeks
Samples shipped with your forwarder.
2 weeks
Meetings and certificates ready.
Fair week
Stand and importer meetings.
FAQ
Anuga questions
When is Anuga 2027?
9–13 October 2027 at Koelnmesse in Cologne.
Is Anuga held every year?
No, every two years.
Can we carry food samples in luggage?
Often not. Plan samples with your forwarder and check EU rules.
What is the other big food fair?
SIAL Paris, held every two years in even years.
Keep reading
More guides: industries and visa how-tos
Plan with Go Global
Planning a Anuga delegation?
Tell us who is travelling, when and why. We reply with a plan, the visa route and a quote. Go Global has handled 100,000+ trips, and our team works 24/7 for travellers on the road. Email insights@goglobal.pk or WhatsApp 0320-4111222.