Despite a deflationary trend that threatens to stymie signs of China’s economic recovery, the country’s – indeed the world’s – plastics industry is looking forward to Chinaplas, the behemoth of all trade shows, returning to Shanghai.

The return to Shanghai comes after a six-year absence. In 2022, the physical event was cancelled due to the pandemic, and a virtual conference and exhibition was held instead. The 2023 event was held in Shenzen, Guangdong.

Related: Chinaplas draws 248,000 visitors in 2023

Organiser Adsale (Hong Kong; www.adsale.com.hk) said Chinaplas 2024 will feature more than 380,000 m² of exhibition space, which is expected to be filled by at least 4,000 companies from 40 countries around the world. The event, held from 23 to 26 April 2024, is to occupy all 15 exhibition halls of the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Hongqiao, Shanghai. 

Reuters news agency reported that China’s exports grew at a faster pace in December 2023. Deflationary pressures persisted, however, opening the door to more policy-easing measures to support the economy, which analysts say is carrying significant pockets of weakness into 2024.

Exports in 2023 were buoyed by a 61.6% increase in electric passenger vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and solar cells, while the country sent more than 2.9 mn cars overseas in the first eight months of 2023, a year-on-year increase of more than 61%; production would likely have been affected by Covid-19 restrictions in 2022.