Middle East & Africa at Intertextile Shanghai 2025: Great Potential Ahead

As the Autumn Edition of Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles 2025 opens its doors, the fair once again demonstrates its role as Asia’s leading platform for the global home and contract textile industry. With 884 exhibitors from 20 countries and regions, covering 100,000 sqm across four halls, the event offers a dynamic space for sourcing, design, and innovation.

This year, the participation of companies from the Middle East and Africa (MEA) was especially notable. While still limited in numbers compared to Asia and Europe, the presence of Egyptian, Turkish, and Iranian exhibitors highlighted the growing visibility of the region and the untapped potential for future editions.

Egypt showcased its strength with six exhibitors under the Home Textile Export Council, offering a wide range of fabrics and solutions. Turkey contributed with three companies, presenting innovative upholstery and curtain fabrics. Iran was represented by Alborz Tavana Carpet, underlining the country’s renowned expertise in flooring and carpet production.

In total, 10 exhibitors from MEA took part this year. Their booths became important meeting points for international buyers, proving that the region can deliver both quality and diversity to global markets.

The importance of MEA markets to the global textile supply chain cannot be overstated. Rising urbanization, expanding middle classes, and significant investment in hospitality, real estate, and infrastructure are driving strong demand for home textiles, upholstery, flooring, and carpets.

For buyers, this translates into tremendous opportunity. From luxury hotels in the Gulf requiring premium curtains, bedding, and flooring, to fast-growing African cities such as Addis Ababa, Nairobi, and Kampala with demand for affordable textiles – the region is already a market of today, not just tomorrow. Attending Intertextile Shanghai enables buyers to connect directly with exhibitors ready to serve these needs.

At the same time, the fair represents a strategic opportunity for producers across the Middle East and Africa. Companies from Egypt, Turkey, and Iran have already demonstrated how powerful the platform can be to showcase products, secure partnerships, and access global supply chains. But they are only the beginning. From North Africa to the Gulf and Sub-Saharan Africa, manufacturers in Morocco, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, South Africa, Kenya and beyond hold enormous potential to benefit from Shanghai’s global reach. Their broader participation would not only boost individual exports but also give the entire MEA region a stronger voice in shaping the future of the global textile industry.

While the 2025 turnout marks progress, the numbers show that the MEA region’s presence is still small compared to its market size. Challenges such as logistics costs, visa and travel barriers, and a traditional focus on domestic markets have slowed wider engagement. Yet these are temporary obstacles. With targeted support from governments, trade associations, and export councils, the MEA footprint at Intertextile Shanghai could expand dramatically in the years ahead.

The participation of MEA exhibitors at Intertextile Shanghai 2025 is a sign of momentum. The region is beginning to establish its presence, but much greater opportunities lie ahead. For firms across Cairo, Casablanca, Dubai, Istanbul, Johannesburg, or Nairobi, Shanghai is not just another trade fair – it is a gateway to global buyers, design inspiration, and sustainability partnerships.

By embracing this opportunity, Middle Eastern and African producers can not only strengthen their export strategies but also ensure the region becomes an influential player in the international home textile arena.

This year, 10 companies from the Middle East and Africa showcased their products at the fair:

• Egypt (6): Egyptian Cotton Hub, Home Textiles Export Council, Life Mattres and Linens Co, Misr Spain Co, TM Fashion Factory & Hotel Supplies Co, Zahret Elmehalla Weaving and Dyeing Co
• Turkey (3): Ahmet Sabuncular Tekstil San Ve Tic Ltd Sti, Aleran Tekstil, Dersiyon Tekstil San Tic Ltd Sti
• Iran (1): Alborz Tavana Carpet

Intertextile Shanghai 2025 highlighted the valuable participation of 10 exhibitors from the Middle East and Africa, with much broader regional involvement still to come. The future belongs to those who seize the opportunity – and Shanghai is the platform where MEA companies can showcase their innovation and ambition.

For continuous updates and in-depth analysis from the fair, follow Kohan Textile Journal and MENA Covering.com.

We also invite our readers to share their thoughts in the comments: How should Middle Eastern and African companies strengthen their role in global home textiles?