The Iran War is driving a significant spike in the cost of running business events in Australia, with exhibition stand prices rising by more than 30 per cent as the global oil shortage pushes up the price of raw materials.
Stands built from wood and metal – the standard materials used in custom exhibition infrastructure – have surged in price since the conflict broke out. In one instance, a stand that previously cost $50,000 now runs to $70,000.
The impact varies across the sector. Larger events that rely on custom-built exhibition infrastructure face the sharpest increases, while smaller events that rent stands are somewhat insulated from rising material costs. However, no segment is entirely sheltered – transportation costs have also climbed on the back of elevated fuel prices, affecting events of all sizes.
Chloe Noel De Kerbrech, chief customer office at The Misfits Media Company, an events creator and publisher of Travel Weekly, confirmed the 30 per cent increase.
Around 64 per cent of business events feature an EXPO element, according to the World Business Events Association, meaning the majority of organisers are exposed to at least some degree of cost pressure flowing from the conflict.
The pressure comes as the industry had been riding strong momentum. Australian Business Events Association data released last year showed the sector generated $19.6 billion for the visitor economy in 2024, with a confirmed international events pipeline up 16 per cent year-on-year as at January 2025.
Rising costs were already flagged as an emerging pressure point in the ABEA’s State of the Business Events Industry Report, published in August last year, with the trend driving shorter and smaller events. The Iran War looks set to intensify that dynamic if material and transport prices remain elevated.
Industry attention is now turning to whether government subvention support can help offset the squeeze, particularly as Australian organisers compete against internationally funded programs for major event bids.
