INTERPLASTICA
Higher visitor numbers to leading Russian trade fair testify to strong interest / Less exhibition space / Cautious optimism among machinery providers / Twin-event nevertheless reflects general economic downturn
 The higher visitor numbers could not hide the economic malaise dogging Russia (Photo: Messe Düsseldorf) |
This year’s "interplastica” (www.interplastica.de) industry fair, held in Moscow / Russia from 26-29 January in conjunction with “Upakovka/Upak Italia” (www.upakovka-upakitalia.de), attracted 20,900 visitors, about 1,900 more than the 2015 event, reports organiser Messe Düsseldorf (Düsseldorf / Germany; www.messe-duesseldorf.de). Although the exhibition space for Upakovka/Upak Italia was smaller than in 2015, 828 companies from 38 countries showcased their portfolios at the two trade fairs.
Despite the rise in attendees, there was no denying the economic difficulties in Russia. Although interest in western technology remains high, the combination of unfavourable political framework conditions, the falling oil price and the weak rouble have made local processors rather hesitant to invest. “Russia is still a potentially significant market currently experiencing difficult times. At the moment, for small and middle-sized Russian companies in particular, it is not easy – the problem of financing planned investments is quite big. However, the market has in no way come to a halt,” said Messe Düsseldorf CEO Matthias Werner Dornscheidt.
Although the plastics segment in Russia and its environs is in desperate need of further investment to optimise production processes and product quality, the focus at this year’s fair was more on staying abreast of the latest developments, maintaining existing business relationships and developing new ones, the organiser said.
At Upakovka /Upak Italia it was evident that Russian food and drink manufacturers continue to rely on western technology, with Messe Düsseldorf reporting that one in two confectionary machines used in Russia is German-produced. Large agricultural holdings and retail firms striving for independence from their suppliers are particularly eager to invest in local food production, in part due to the ban on food imports as well as state subsidies, the fair organiser reports. As a result, a number of new factories for ready-meals and convenience products have been set up. Despite this trend, German exports of food and packaging machinery to Russia fell by 36% to EUR 261m in the first 10 months of 2015.
It is not just this particular segment that is seeing a decline. German exports of plastics and rubber processing machinery to Russia also fell by 16.7% year-on-year in the first 10 months of 2015 to EUR 118.8m. Despite this fall, Germany remains the most important supplier of this type of machinery to Russia, commanding a market share of 23.9% in 2014 – ahead of Italy and China. Bernd Nütel, of the German association for plastics and rubber machinery VDMA Kunststoff- und Gummimaschinen (KuG, Frankfurt; http://kug.vdma.org), said, “The financing of planned and also necessary investments currently represents the greatest problem. However, there is definitely optimism for the future – especially because it seems that efforts are being taken by the Russian government in order to drive forward the expansion of domestic production.”
On the whole, German plastics and rubber machinery producers were said to have been surprised by the high number and quality of customer leads – a sentiment echoed by their Italian counterparts. Despite having their worst fears proved wrong, Mario Maggiani, CEO of industry association Assocomaplast (Milan / Italy; www.assocomaplast.org), said Italian plastics and rubber machinery deliveries to Russia are expected to contract by between 20-30% in 2015 – following a year-on-year decline of 12% to EUR 105.2m in 2014.
The next interplastica and Upakovka/Upak Italia fairs will be held in Moscow from 24-27 January 2017.
Despite the rise in attendees, there was no denying the economic difficulties in Russia. Although interest in western technology remains high, the combination of unfavourable political framework conditions, the falling oil price and the weak rouble have made local processors rather hesitant to invest. “Russia is still a potentially significant market currently experiencing difficult times. At the moment, for small and middle-sized Russian companies in particular, it is not easy – the problem of financing planned investments is quite big. However, the market has in no way come to a halt,” said Messe Düsseldorf CEO Matthias Werner Dornscheidt.
Although the plastics segment in Russia and its environs is in desperate need of further investment to optimise production processes and product quality, the focus at this year’s fair was more on staying abreast of the latest developments, maintaining existing business relationships and developing new ones, the organiser said.
At Upakovka /Upak Italia it was evident that Russian food and drink manufacturers continue to rely on western technology, with Messe Düsseldorf reporting that one in two confectionary machines used in Russia is German-produced. Large agricultural holdings and retail firms striving for independence from their suppliers are particularly eager to invest in local food production, in part due to the ban on food imports as well as state subsidies, the fair organiser reports. As a result, a number of new factories for ready-meals and convenience products have been set up. Despite this trend, German exports of food and packaging machinery to Russia fell by 36% to EUR 261m in the first 10 months of 2015.
It is not just this particular segment that is seeing a decline. German exports of plastics and rubber processing machinery to Russia also fell by 16.7% year-on-year in the first 10 months of 2015 to EUR 118.8m. Despite this fall, Germany remains the most important supplier of this type of machinery to Russia, commanding a market share of 23.9% in 2014 – ahead of Italy and China. Bernd Nütel, of the German association for plastics and rubber machinery VDMA Kunststoff- und Gummimaschinen (KuG, Frankfurt; http://kug.vdma.org), said, “The financing of planned and also necessary investments currently represents the greatest problem. However, there is definitely optimism for the future – especially because it seems that efforts are being taken by the Russian government in order to drive forward the expansion of domestic production.”
On the whole, German plastics and rubber machinery producers were said to have been surprised by the high number and quality of customer leads – a sentiment echoed by their Italian counterparts. Despite having their worst fears proved wrong, Mario Maggiani, CEO of industry association Assocomaplast (Milan / Italy; www.assocomaplast.org), said Italian plastics and rubber machinery deliveries to Russia are expected to contract by between 20-30% in 2015 – following a year-on-year decline of 12% to EUR 105.2m in 2014.
The next interplastica and Upakovka/Upak Italia fairs will be held in Moscow from 24-27 January 2017.
16.02.2016 Plasteurope.com [233341-0]
Published on 16.02.2016
German version of this article...