The leading international maritime trade fair will take place in Hamburg from 3 to 6 September 2024. More than 2,000 exhibitors and over 40,000 visitorsfrom more than 120 countries are expected to attend. The demand from Asia is especially strong: “Up until now, many more exhibitors from China, Korea and Japan – the leading shipbuilding nations – have registered for SMM 2024 in Hamburg than in the past,” says Claus Ulrich Selbach, Business Unit Director – Maritime and Technology Fairs & Exhibitions at Hamburg Messe und Congress. The area booked actually exceeds that seen in pre-Covid times. The demand from China is particularly high: In addition to the Chinese national pavilions, the China State Shipbuilding Corporation will also be present with a large stand. Other major players will be represented in September 2024, as well, including COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry or Fujian Chuanzheng Shipbuilding.
Korea a key partner for European companies
However, due to persistent supply chain issues and geopolitical conflicts, not all owners planning to build new vessels want to put all their bets on China. “Korea is an alternative,” says Hauke Schlegel, General Manager, VDMA – Marine Equipment & Systems. The more important it is for the European maritime sector that Korea, the world’s second largest shipbuilding nation, will be present at SMM 2024, as well. 16 exhibitors from Korea have registered to date. Christoph Lücke, the person in charge of SMM, is expecting many more registrations: “The focus of SMM 2024 will be on the maritime energy transition and the question which propulsion technologies will ultimately persist so the challenging IMO climate goals can be achieved. These topics are of particular interest to Korean shipyards because they are putting the emphasis on eco-friendly shipbuilding.” The South Korean definition of eco-friendliness includes LNG and LPG tankers as well as methanol-fuelled ships. But battery-based solutions are in demand, as well. “All these technologies will be highlighted by exhibitors at SMM – an opportunity no-one should miss,” says Christoph Lücke, Director Maritime Fairs at Hamburg Messe und Congress.
SMM: Showcasing the entire value chain
From MAN Energy Solutions and Kongsberg Maritime AS to Rolls-Royce Solutions, Wärtsilä and Mecklenburger Metallguss, it is European technology leaders who will present their innovations at SMM 2024 in Hamburg. “SMM is the perfect place to meet these international companies und intensify business relationships. No other European trade fair represents the maritime value chain as comprehensively as SMM,” says Christoph Lücke.
About SMM
The leading international maritime trade fair will take place in Hamburg from 3 to 6 September 2024. Around 2,000 exhibitors and more than 40,000 visitors from over 100 countries are expected to attend. In eleven exhibition halls, SMM will cover the entire value chain of the maritime industry. As a platform for innovation, it brings together leaders from around the world. The 31st SMM will focus on the maritime energy transition, the digital transformation, and climate change. The fair will be accompanied by conferences featuring top-ranking experts.
