From September 1 to 4, 2026, the 32nd Shipbuilding, Machinery and Marine Technology trade fair (SMM) took place in Hamburg, Germany. The event brought together over 2,200 exhibitors and nearly 50,000 professionals from 120 countries, including shipyards, equipment manufacturers, power system suppliers, and classification societies. More than 200 Chinese companies exhibited, making China the largest international exhibitor group. Invited by several partner companies, the German team of Borussia International Consulting GmbH (BIC) visited key halls and met with exhibitors from different countries.

Decarbonization and energy efficiency were the central themes across the exhibition halls. During the fair, BIC met with companies including SKF Marine, Liebherr, FUCHS Fördertechnik, and BOLLFILTER. SKF Marine said it continues to invest in local support and technology for bearing and sealing systems for green, high-value vessels. Liebherr and FUCHS Fördertechnik stressed delivery reliability and supply chain resilience, showing clear demand for fast-response, cost-effective component sourcing. BOLLFILTER presented filtration solutions for methanol and ammonia systems and expressed interest in working with qualified supply chain partners. One point was clear: for European companies to grow, control costs, and stay competitive, Chinese supply chains are now a key part of the picture. Cooperation is also moving beyond simple product sourcing toward long-term technical collaboration.
However, interest at the fair does not always lead to deals afterward. Two issues stand out. First, cost efficiency alone is not enough to enter core European procurement. European customers have strict requirements for classification society approvals, EU environmental standards, stable delivery, and local after-sales support. Without meeting these compliance standards, suppliers often cannot reach key purchasing decision-makers. Second, follow-up after the fair is often weak. It is easy to exchange business cards in Hamburg, but language and cultural differences, plus the lack of a local team in Europe, mean many leads stall after the event.

The demand for China-Europe cooperation is real, but the main challenge remains execution on the ground. Now that SMM 2026 has ended, the follow-up work continues. Based in Germany, Borussia International Consulting GmbH (BIC) supports Chinese and European companies with market visits, post-fair client follow-up, compliance guidance, and building local teams in Europe. During SMM 2026, we completed hall visits and client introductions for several partner companies. If you need a German-based partner who understands both Chinese needs and European business practice, please contact us.