Adsale (Hong Kong, China; www.adsale.com.hk), the organiser of the Chinaplas trade fair, has indefinitely postponed the 35th edition of the exhibition in Shanghai, which was planned for 25-28 April of this year (see Plasteurope.com of 21.12.2021). Yet again, the coronavirus is throwing a spanner in the works of the sought-after event. However, with recent infection rates and the tightening of containment measures, the organisers were said to have had no other choice.

From another perspective, these measures could also turn out to be a form of damage control as the possibility of having visitors from abroad at the Shanghai National Exhibition and Convention Center was rather low this year. Due also to nationwide travel restrictions, there could have been considerably fewer guests from China as well.

The fact that no new date for the event has been announced suggests how uncertain and unpredictable the Covid-19 situation has become in the country. Depending on further escalation – of both the pandemic and the war in Ukraine – the trade fair may possibly not take place at all this year. For the time being, Adsale has launched information channels online, for instance, the CPS+ eMarketplace, a virtual sourcing and business matching platform.

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At Germany’s Messe Düsseldorf (www.messe-duesseldorf.de), the cancellation of Chinaplas is being closely observed. The organisers of K 2022, however, do not see this as a bad omen for their own event in October. On the contrary: “K will be a blessing,” they said in response to a Plasteurope.com enquiry. “Exhibitors are looking forward to being able to present themselves again.” The cancellation of Chinaplas could even boost business at Düsseldorf.