The **International Food Fair (SIAL)** will open on October 17 at the Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition center and continue until October 21. Organized by Comexposium, the event will bring together 8,000 exhibitors and 295,000 professionals from 200 countries across ten sectors, covering an area of more than 280,000 square meters. As of March, 85 percent of the exhibition spaces were already reserved, with over 260,000 square meters sold—16 percent more than in 2024 at the same time. Italy, Spain, Turkey, Greece, and France are the top five countries represented by exhibitors. The biennial fair, first created in 1964, had 7,500 exhibitors from 127 countries in 2024, with more than 285,000 professionals attending, 78.5 percent of whom came from abroad. According to Comexposium’s report, attendance increased by 8 percent in 2024. The fair opens in a context of tension for France's trade balance. In 2025, the country's overall trade deficit decreased by 10 billion euros to 69.2 billion euros, according to Customs. However, the agro-food sector experienced the opposite trend. According to Customs, the sector's surplus fell to 200 million euros in 2025, declining by 5 billion euros in one year to its lowest level since at least 2000. The balance of raw agricultural products turned into a deficit of -0.3 billion euros, while the surplus of processed agro-food products dropped to 0.5 billion euros compared to 4.4 billion euros in 2024. Agreste, the statistical service of the Ministry of Agriculture, estimates the agro-food surplus of 2025 at 181 million euros, a decline of 4.8 billion euros, with the balance of raw products showing a deficit of 373 million euros—a first since 2017. The surplus of processed products is limited to 554 million euros. The surplus generated with third countries is set at 3.6 billion euros, down 3.8 billion euros, while the deficit with other European Union countries has widened to 3.4 billion euros compared to 2.4 billion euros in 2024. Wines and spirits are at the forefront of this decline. According to Customs, the export prices of wines and champagnes to the United States have decreased by 12 percent, while those of spirits have decreased by 18 percent. Prices to the rest of the world have remained almost stable. Agreste notes that the surplus of wines and champagnes has gone from 10.8 to 10.3 billion euros in one year. At the same time, agro-food imports have increased by 8 percent, compared to 1 percent for exports. Cocoa-based products, beef, poultry, and dairy products are driving this increase. Despite these challenges, the sector remains important in external exchanges. According to Customs, food exports reached 84.2 billion euros in 2025, while imports of processed agro-food products increased by 8.5 percent, to 64.4 billion euros. In the first months of 2026, a partial improvement is observed. In January, the agro-food balance became a surplus of 92 million euros, according to Agreste, with imports decreasing by 310 million euros over a year due to a decline in cocoa and butter prices. Exports only decreased by 38 million euros. The recovery of cereal sales, oilseed, and live cattle limited this decline. In July, the surplus reached 347 million euros, an increase of 236 million euros over a year. However, Agreste notes this is below the average for the months of July 2021-2025, which was 606 million euros. That month, the balance of raw products became a deficit again, at -70 million euros, attributed to the decline in cereal exports. The fair also celebrates the 30th anniversary of **SIAL Innovation**, its space dedicated to new products. During the **SIAL Summits** and **SIAL Talks**, speakers will address sustainability, consumption, and supply chains. An entire hall will also be dedicated to snacking and gourmet food, according to the organizer.