Vinexpo Returns To Hong Kong, Ends Singapore Rotation

Hong Kong is reclaiming its status as Asia’s leading wine trade hub.

Vinexposium has announced that Vinexpo Asia will return to Hong Kong as an annual event from 2027, ending the alternating Hong Kong-Singapore format introduced after the pandemic. The move signals a renewed vote of confidence in Hong Kong’s position as the region’s premier gateway for the international wine and spirits trade.

The exhibition will take place from 8 to 10 June 2027 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). From then on, Hong Kong will become the permanent home of Vinexpo Asia, replacing the previous rotation under which the exhibition was held in Hong Kong in even-numbered years and Singapore in odd-numbered years.

The decision marks another major shift in Vinexposium’s Asia strategy. More importantly, it reflects the organiser’s assessment of where the centre of gravity of Asia’s wine trade now lies.

“Hong Kong has been part of Vinexpo Asia’s history since 1998 and remains one of the most relevant gateways to Asian markets for the wine and spirits industry.”Rodolphe Lameyse, CEO of Comexposium’s Food & Beverage Division. “Establishing Vinexpo Asia as an annual event in Hong Kong reflects Vinexposium’s confidence in the city and supports Comexposium’s broader Food & Beverage strategy in Asia.”

Strategically positioned at the doorstep of mainland China while maintaining strong links with Southeast Asia and the wider Asia-Pacific region, Hong Kong has long served as the region’s principal wine trading centre. Since abolishing wine duties in 2008, the city has built a mature ecosystem supported by international logistics, specialist storage, fine wine trading and a favourable business environment.

The announcement also marks a return to Vinexpo’s original Asian strategy.

Hong Kong hosted the exhibition continuously from its debut in 1998 until 2018, establishing itself as the region’s flagship wine trade event.

That trajectory was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Vinexpo Hong Kong 2020 was postponed several times before ultimately being cancelled as border restrictions made international exhibitions impossible. In 2022, Vinexposium announced that the event would relocate to Singapore from 2023.

Then the organiser adopted a dual-city strategy, alternating between Hong Kong and Singapore. That arrangement has now come to an end.

Singapore never fully replaced Hong Kong

While Singapore offered an attractive alternative during the pandemic, many in the trade felt it never replicated Hong Kong’s role as Asia’s wine business hub.

Wu Xianghua, CEO of Chinese premium wine importer Fine West, who has attended Vinexpo Asia for the past four years, said the latest decision came as little surprise.

“The centre of Asia’s wine trade is still Hong Kong,” he told Vino Joy News.

The centre of Asia’s wine trade is still Hong Kong.

Wu Xianghu, Fine West

“Hong Kong sits next to mainland China, the region’s largest wine market. The move to Singapore was driven by the pandemic. Once the exhibition relocated, the number of professional visitors from Hong Kong and mainland China dropped noticeably. I’ve always believed Vinexpo would eventually return.”

Although Southeast Asian markets such as Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia continue to expand, Wu believes their overall scale remains relatively limited and that many companies in those markets still rely on Hong Kong as their regional trading platform.

“Hong Kong has duty-free wine imports, a much more mature trading ecosystem and stronger logistics and professional services. It’s also easy to reach from Southeast Asia.”

Rising costs also worked against Singapore

For exhibitors, cost became another deciding factor.

Gu Yuping, China Chief Representative of Henkell Freixenet, who has participated in Vinexpo in both Hong Kong and Singapore, said Singapore’s significantly higher business costs made participation less attractive.

“Everything costs more in Singapore,” he told Vino Joy News.

“Client dinners and side events are an essential part of Vinexpo, but organising them in Singapore is substantially more expensive than in Hong Kong. It’s much easier to host customers and run events in Hong Kong, which is why many exhibitors prefer it. We’ve consistently shared this feedback with the organiser.”

With the global wine industry still facing weak demand and tighter budgets, he said controlling exhibition costs has become an increasingly important consideration for producers.

Vinexposium appears to share that assessment.

Grace Ghazalé, International Events Director at Vinexposium, said the annual Hong Kong format responds to the industry’s demand for greater stability, stronger commercial momentum and improved visibility in Asia.

“By establishing Vinexpo Asia in Hong Kong on a yearly basis, Vinexposium aims to offer exhibitors and visitors a clearer framework to build long-term relationships, plan their participation more effectively and support the continued development of trade across the region.”

The decision is significant not only for Vinexposium, but also for Hong Kong.

For a city that temporarily lost its flagship international wine exhibition during the pandemic, securing Vinexpo Asia as an annual event represents a strong endorsement of its enduring role as Asia’s wine and spirits gateway. It also suggests that, despite the growing importance of Southeast Asia, the international wine industry still views Hong Kong—and its access to mainland China—as the region’s indispensable commercial hub.