Exhibition time: April 23-25, 2026

Exhibition location: Millennium Exhibition Hall, Addis Ababa

Host: DMG

Exhibition type: Building and Building Materials

The Big 5 Construct Ethiopia is a large-scale and influential professional exhibition for the construction and building materials industry in East Africa. With the core positioning of "promoting sustainable construction and empowering the urbanization process in East Africa", it closely aligns with the strategic goals of infrastructure upgrading and industrialization development in Ethiopia's "2021-2030 Ten Year Development Plan". The exhibition is hosted by the globally renowned exhibition group DMG Events, relying on its more than 20 years of operational experience in the African market, integrating international supplier resources and localized needs, and becoming an annual benchmark event for the construction industry in East Africa.

According to the data officially disclosed by the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC) and DMG, the 2026 exhibition is expected to attract 200 exhibitors from 35 countries, including China, Türkiye, India and the United Arab Emirates, covering five core sectors: building materials and equipment, engineering machinery, construction technology, power and energy, and interior decoration. The exhibition will gather over 8000 professional visitors from Ethiopia and neighboring countries (Kenya, Sudan, Somalia, etc.), including government representatives, developers, contractors, architects, and procurement decision-makers, to facilitate a closed loop of "product display project docking investment negotiation". The organizer draws on its successful experience in operating the Big 5 Global and Big 5 Construct Nigeria exhibitions in Dubai to provide exhibitors with value-added services such as East African market access consultation, B2B matching, and policy interpretation.

The 2026 Ethiopia Five Industries Exhibition will be held from April 23-25 at the Millennium Pavilion in Addis Ababa, and is expected to attract over 250 international and local exhibitors, as well as more than 10000 industry professionals from Ethiopia and around the world.

market opportunity

1. Building materials: filling the local production capacity gap in Ethiopia, with significant advantages in China's supply chain

The Ethiopian government plans to build 2 million new affordable housing units between 2026 and 2030 (according to the National Housing Development Plan of the Ethiopian Ministry of Housing and Urban Rural Development), but local building materials production capacity can only meet about 60% of the demand (according to data from the African Development Bank in 2024), and cement, steel, glass, etc. still rely on imports.

As a regional trade hub, Kenya allows Chinese companies to leverage the logistics advantages of Mombasa Port to export cost-effective building materials to Ethiopia. For example, Ethiopia has an annual cement shortage of about 3 million tons, while China's cement production technology and cost advantages are obvious. It can cooperate with Kenyan distributors to establish storage centers and radiate the Ethiopian market. In addition, the Ethiopian government encourages the application of low-carbon building materials, and Chinese companies' prefabricated building components, environmentally friendly coatings and other products will receive policy support and be favored by buyers at the exhibition.

2. Construction machinery: Infrastructure expansion drives equipment demand, and Chinese brands are favored for their cost-effectiveness

Ethiopia is advancing the "National Transportation Corridor" plan, which includes 1200 kilometers of new construction projects such as highways, railways, and industrial parks (planned by the Ethiopian Ministry of Transport in 2025). However, there is a shortage of local construction machinery, with about 70% of the equipment relying on imports (according to data from the East African Construction Machinery Association).

Chinese brands such as Sany Heavy Industry and XCMG have established after-sales networks in Kenya, which can leverage this advantage to export excavators, rollers and other equipment to the Ethiopian market. In addition, the Ethiopian government encourages equipment leasing models to lower the procurement threshold for small and medium-sized enterprises, and Chinese companies can provide flexible leasing solutions through Kenyan agents to further expand their market share. The exhibition will attract key buyers such as Ethiopian engineering contractors and government project parties, becoming an important platform for Chinese companies to showcase intelligent and low-energy machinery.

3. Building technology: The demand for digitalization and sustainable technology is surging, and China's solutions are taking the lead

The construction industry in Ethiopia is accelerating its digital and green transformation, and the government requires all large-scale projects to adopt BIM (Building Information Modeling) technology from 2026 onwards (new regulations from the Ethiopian Ministry of Housing and Urban Rural Development). Chinese companies have mature technologies in areas such as smart construction sites, 3D printing buildings, and integrated solar buildings, and their costs are lower than those of European and American suppliers.

For example, the "Affordable Smart Housing" project in Kenya has adopted modular construction technology from Chinese companies, reducing the construction cycle of a single residential unit by 40% (case study by the Kenya Construction Association). Chinese companies participating in the exhibition can attract Ethiopian developers through technology demonstrations, while also partnering with Kenyan IT service providers to provide localized technical support, forming long-term cooperation.

4. Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC): Urbanization and Commercial Real Estate Growth Generate New Demand

The average annual growth rate of commercial real estate in Ethiopia is 12% (Africa Real Estate Insight 2025 report), with an increase in hotel and office projects in the capital Addis Ababa. However, the local HVAC market is still dominated by European and American brands, with high prices. Chinese companies such as Gree and Midea have set up factories in Kenya, which can seize the Ethiopian market with high-efficiency and low-cost air conditioning products.

In addition, Ethiopia's climate diversity (cool highlands, hot lowlands) requires differentiated HVAC solutions, and Chinese companies can promote products such as ground source heat pumps and solar air conditioners for different regions. The exhibition will gather decision-makers such as Ethiopian real estate developers and hotel groups, becoming a key channel for Chinese companies to promote customized solutions.

5. Interior decoration: Consumer upgrading drives demand, and China's supply chain responds quickly

The middle-class population in Ethiopia is expected to exceed 10 million by 2026 (according to World Bank data), driving the upgrading of home, hotel, and commercial space decoration. However, the domestic decorative materials industry in Ethiopia is weak, with 80% of tiles, bathrooms, and lighting fixtures relying on imports (according to data from the East African Trade Center).

Chinese enterprises have the advantages of design iteration and rapid delivery in the fields of fast fashion home furnishings, smart lighting, and environmentally friendly boards, and can establish distribution networks through Kenyan traders. For example, Kenyan building materials companies have successfully introduced Chinese luxury bathroom products into the Ethiopian apartment project, with a profit margin 20% higher than traditional products (according to a survey conducted by Kenyan building materials importers). Chinese companies participating in the exhibition can focus on connecting with Ethiopian interior design companies and chain hotel procurement departments to establish long-term supply relationships.

Exhibition Scope

Interior and decoration of buildings: fireproof gypsum board, metal decorative board, sound-absorbing cotton board, SPC stone plastic floor, solid wood composite floor, mineral wool ceiling, aluminum buckle board, water-based environmentally friendly coating, ceramic tile paper, wallpaper, decorative lines, soft pack wall surface, UV decorative panel, art glass, anti-static floor, integrated wall, PVC floor, diatomaceous earth, metal mesh curtain, translucent film, etc.  

Mechanical and electrical services: diesel generators, photovoltaic inverters, LED mining lights, explosion-proof lamps, central air conditioning units, fresh air systems, fire sprinklers, smoke detectors, emergency lighting systems, distribution boxes, cable trays, bus ducts, circuit breakers, voltage regulators, UPS power supplies, smart meters, water pumps, frequency converters, cables, wiring terminals, etc.   

Digital building products and services: BIM modeling software, construction site management system, intelligent access control system, building automation system, unmanned aerial vehicle surveying equipment, AR construction guidance software, digital twin platform, smart meter, asset tracking tag, remote monitoring camera, facial recognition terminal, energy consumption monitoring system, smart parking system, smart home control, construction robot, AI progress management software, cloud project management platform, laser scanner, wireless sensor network, etc.   

Windows, doors, and facades/special buildings: bridge cut aluminum doors and windows, steel fire doors, glass curtain walls, aluminum-plastic panel exterior walls, electric blinds, anti-theft rolling shutter doors, sunroom systems, skylights, GRC decorative components, metal roof systems, folding doors, revolving doors, induction doors, insulated glass, Low-E glass, point curtain walls, aluminum veneer, ceramic panel curtain walls, sunshade systems, canopies, etc.   

Concrete and cement products: quick setting cement, concrete admixtures, prefabricated beams, prefabricated stairs, concrete pump trucks, cement brick machines, permeable concrete, grouting materials, fiber concrete, 3D printed concrete, UHPC high-performance concrete, lightweight concrete, self leveling mortar, concrete repair agents, concrete dyes, prefabricated wall panels, cement pipe piles, concrete cutting saws, concrete vibrators, etc.   

Construction tools and personal protective equipment: electric drill, angle grinder, laser rangefinder, safety rope, anti fall device, safety shoes, protective goggles, earplugs, dust mask, reflective vest, impact drill, electric hammer, wire saw, sanding machine, hot air gun, level, safety helmet, anti cutting gloves, gas detector, first aid kit, etc.   

Hardware products and accessories: door locks, hinges, sliding rails, expansion bolts, self tapping screws, drills, grinding wheels, wire ropes, toolboxes, cutting blades, handles, hinges, floor springs, door closers, door pulls, rivets, steel nails, shooting nails, corner codes, flange nuts, etc.   

Heavy construction equipment: tower cranes, concrete pump trucks, excavators, loaders, rollers, bulldozers, asphalt pavers, pile drivers, forklifts, mining trucks, rotary drilling rigs, graders, milling machines, concrete mixer trucks, aerial work platforms, gantry cranes, rock cutters, vibratory rollers, shield tunneling machines, crane accessories, etc.   

HVAC products: split air conditioners, multi split units, chillers, fan coil units, air-cooled heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, solar air conditioners, ventilation ducts, air vents, temperature controllers, VRV systems, air source water heaters, fresh air ventilators, dehumidifiers, humidifiers, air curtains, radiators, air conditioning brackets, mufflers, fire dampers, etc.   

Urban design and landscape: landscape sculptures, anti-corrosion wood, artificial lawns, fountain equipment, courtyard lights, flower boxes, guardrails, permeable bricks, outdoor seating, signage, pavilions, wooden walkways, landscape stones, water feature walls, outdoor trash cans, landscape bridges, tree pond covers, outdoor flooring, simulated plants, landscape fences, etc.   

Solar products: photovoltaic modules, solar street lights, off grid inverters, energy storage batteries, solar water pumps, solar chargers, photovoltaic brackets, solar water heaters, microgrid systems, solar trackers, photovoltaic cables, solar controllers, solar insecticidal lamps, solar billboards, photovoltaic combiner boxes, solar monitoring systems, solar off grid kits, solar folding bags, solar household systems, photovoltaic cleaning robots, etc.

Exhibition quotation