Trade fairs are one of the leading service sectors of the German economy. The Federal Republic of Germany is the leading centre worldwide for staging international trade fairs. Around two thirds of all leading trade fairs are held in Germany.

In terms of sales, five of the ten largest organizers of trade fairs are headquartered in Germany. Exhibitors and visitors spend around EUR 10 billion annually on trade fairs. Overall, trade fairs are worth EUR 23 billion to the German economy and ensure around 250,000 jobs.

Each year, some 140 national trade fairs and exhibitions are organized, attended by 160,000 exhibitors, making use of 6.5 million square meters to attract nine to ten million visitors.

From a global point of view, the number one point with regard to German trade fairs is their international aspect. Almost half the exhibitors come from abroad, and of those one third are from non-European countries. Almost one in five visitors to international trade fairs come from outside Germany, and of those around 20% from overseas.